Mother’s Day is here upon us again. Today, I wanted to stop, if only for a minute, to reflect on just exactly what my mother has meant to me, and how much of an impact her calming, loving words and patient attitude has had on my life this past year.
Just as this past year has been really tough for many people out there, it has been exceptionally tough for me too. One of the things I most admired and treasured greatly as a young boy, and later as a young man, were the endless talks that my mom would have with me. I know many of you are thinking, “Oh, NO, not mom talking my ear off!” No, that’s not what I’m talking about. Most of the time it was me that needed to talk, and it was mom that had the insurmountable patience to just sit and listen.
I am a father now, and have two children of my own. My son is a new teenager at 13 and is really smart, as indicated by the constant utterance of “I know” after everything I tell him. My daughter is nearing 25 in her mind, at the wonderful age of 10. Often times, my kids sit down with me to talk about things that are happening in their lives or at school, or to tell me of the drama-du-jour that they are going through. I find myself smiling inside and remembering the conversations I had with my mom. How the subjects seem so similar……and totally ridiculous at times, to me now. But they were so real back then. Mom had to have been thinking the same thing back then. But she always just offered kind words in response, and endless listening time to me.
I think that we can better appreciate mom, when we have children of our own, and we find ourselves saying the same things to them that mom told us in the past. As adults, we can decipher if our mother’s advice was good advice, or not so good. I consider myself extremely fortunate and blessed to have a mom that has been wonderful to me over the years. Now, at 48 years old, the realization of the mortality of life is seen more clearly. When I look at my mom, I no longer see the young woman I used to see. But her endless love is still there for me; her kind words are ever present. I still look to my mom for countless advice. I have realized that the knowledge she has and so freely gives, is so valuable in my life, and the unpretentious love and genuine kindness is so welcome and warming to the very depths of my being.
My mom has been a wonderful godly example to me my whole life. She has always loved me, cared for me, guided me, set high expectations for me, loved me whether I succeeded or failed, and has always kept her footsteps close to Jesus’ so that the example she sets for me was the example that God wished.
So on this very special Mother’s Day, I want my mom to know just how very much I love her. I want her to know how much I appreciate the warm loving efforts she made to always be there for me. I want her to know how much I am grateful that she chooses to be close with God, so that the example she set for me is a Godly example. But most importantly, I want to thank God for giving me a mother that expresses her love to me everyday. I am so blessed to have a mother like my mom, and I thank her for being there for me always, and for loving me endlessly.
I love you Mom! Happy Mother’s Day!
Scott
