Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is a day of opportunity to express gratitude to the one who carried us in her womb for a long time.  The women who labored in pain and who’s voice we knew at our birth. The woman, who loved, encouraged, poured time and energy into our lives. For many of us, we have had our own personal coach and cheerleader giving us a pep talk through out life. Not all of the women we recognize on this day are our biological birth mothers but may also be those who have filled the gap by providing love and being the nurturing role model we needed. Mother’s Day ranks as the 3rd highest card purchase for the year behind Christmas and Valentines Day signifying the significance of mothers in our lives.
 
 When we lived in Latin American countries, people would save money throughout the year so that on that one special day, Mother’s Day, they could buy the biggest gift possible for their mothers.  It was not a toaster or hand mixer for that would be way too small.  I am talking about washers, dryers, stove and even refrigerators.  The thought was the bigger the gift, the better.  It looked like a demonstration of how big one’s love for their mother.
 
When I spoke at my mother’s funeral in Aug, 2020, the message I wanted to communicate about her was how my mother had imprinted on my life.  Not to be confused with an impact on my life but an imprint.  A great definition is found in Britannica Dictionary:

1. : to create a mark by pressing against a surface  -imprint [=stamp] a design on a sheet of paper/ wearing a T-shirt imprinted with the company logo

2. : to cause (something) to stay in your mind or memory. The image of her beautiful face will always be imprinted on my mind. [=I will always remember her beautiful face], a picture imprinted in my memory.
 
I was 61 years old when my mother passed and felt my heart was broken in two. What I have carried on from my mother has been an imprint of what she did, why she did it and how she did it. To sum it up, it was all because of how she loved and cared about others.
 
Today’s blog is being blessed with three testimonies of women who have lost their mothers.  They have answered basic questions of: 1. At what age did you lose your mother? 2. What is one special memory of your mother? 3. What is one thing from your mother that you have carried over to your time as a mother?
 
Sonya
1. My mom passed away was I was eight years old, leaving behind my twin sister, my dad and I.

2. I don’t have too many memories as I was so young, but I do remember how my mom would make others laugh. That is one thing that many people still tell about her; she would be the one in the room to have the positive and joyful personality. One special memory I have of her was when she one day was pretending that she didn’t have a belly button. It was goofy and as a young child I believed her. She had her pants pulled up really high above her belly button and was laughing just as hard as my sister and I were!
 
3. My mom would tuck my sister and I into bed each night. Each time she did, she would sing a lullaby to my sister and I.  Now, I am able to do that with my children each night before bed and they already know the song by heart! It’s a blessing to hear them sing it with me and I hope they pass that along with their children as well.
 
Peggy
1. I was 35 when my mother went home to be with Jesus. This was too young to be without a mother, yet older than many others who have lost their moms.

2. My mother was an alcoholic for many years. However, she became a recovering alcoholic when I was 28. So, for the final 6 years of her life, we had many lovely memories. One thing I cherished was our Saturday morning conversations, especially after we no longer lived close enough to see each other. A very special memory though was when she drove several hundred miles to see my Dad as he was in his final days due to cancer. They had divorced many years before that and it was while she was still drinking heavily. Mom came to the VA Hospital and all of us kids were there (my sister and my two brothers). In front of us, she asked my Dad to forgive her for all the years of pain that she caused him and our family. His response brought tears to all of our eyes. My Dad looked at her and said, "Dora Mae, I already have forgiven you." It was a beautiful demonstration of Christ's love.
3.  My Mom was a terrific cook and baker. She also loved to garden. It was fun to meal plan with her during a good day and see her creative side in trying new recipes. She also loved to travel to the closest big town (4 hours away) and shop and eat somewhere fun. So, spending quality time and preparing meals for those I love is something that I carry into my life today.
Happy Mother's Day

Louann
1. I was 47 years old when Mom died. She entered heaven May 2, 2005 and was 82 years old.

2. Serving God and laughter are what I remember most of Mom. God was first in her life-always. The laughter was just one of the “perks” of her nature. When my brothers both moved out, my parents opted to make their bedroom a study/guest room. They ordered a hide-a-bed sofa, which back then weighed a ton! It arrived and was put in the garage. She and I boldly decided we could move it into the bedroom. Mind you, my childhood home was a modest three-bedroom house and the hallway was narrow. Garage at one end, study/guestroom at the other. This meant navigating through the laundry room, turning into the kitchen, another turn through the entry, heading down the hallway and into the room where the hide-a-bed would reside. Did I mention the couch/bed weighted a TON? Picture if you would, narrow doorways, multiple turns, a very narrow hallway and in to the bedroom. All was going well until we arrived at the end of the hallway. In order to get the couch in the room, we’d need to lift one end. I was on the front end, Mom on the back. For some unknown reason Mom got tickled. Perhaps it was something I said-“Let’s get this thing IN the room so we can sit on it!” Not sure but Mom lost it and began laughing. I should have mentioned when Mom got tickled and began to laugh she basically collapsed on the floor and was pretty useless in being of any help, no matter the situation. All resolved, the hide-a-bed was in place by the time my Dad arrived home from work. A merry heart doeth good like a medicine. Her heart was certainly merry.
 
3. I have carried many characteristics of my Mom into my life. Serving God and laughter both. Also, the love of nature, reading and investing in the lives of others. I call it ‘seed planting’. Whether I will see the fruits of those seeds planted or not is unimportant. Planting them, nurturing, watering and watching them grow is what matters.
 
Some of you still have the opportunity to bless your mother with gifts and words of appreciation.  This week, let’s all seize the opportunity to celebrate the woman who carried you, whether physically or emotionally.  Some of you may need restoration.  May God lead and guide you in that pursuit.  Not all of our mothers have been a Proverbs 31 woman, but we can still follow the admonishment of Proverbs 31:31,  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I would love to hear your answers to these three questions (or if you mother is still living, answers to 2 and 3.)
 
Happy Mother’s Day!
 
Blessings,
Karen