Some of you know that I lost my mother this past January at the age of 94, so this Mother’s Day is a little hard. I miss her every day. I feel her love around me all the time.
Yesterday I received in the mail, this card. My older sister found it going through my mother’s things. Mom kept every card and letter she ever got from her three girls, (as well as my dad, and her extended family), and actually I’m sure used to go through the picnic basket she kept them in on a fairly regular basis, once or twice a year. I must have made it in school when I was 8 or 9. Just learning cursive writing. I just wanted to share, to celebrate having such an amazing mother. The post it note is from my sister.
If there is one person in the world who taught me what unconditional love and forgiveness are, it was her. I forgot for many years, but it was the love she gave us girls, that she instilled in us a knowledge that we have value, that we have our own light, just because we exist, which guided me out of a lot of darkness in my life. My ability to forgive comes from the example she set for us, during some incredibly hard days she had. Days which I didn’t even fully understand until she told my younger sister and I the whole story when she was 90 years old and moving out of her house.
A couple of years ago I went back to my hometown for my 45th high school reunion. I ran into a childhood friend, whose mother and mine attended college together as my mom got her teaching degree. (She had 3 college degrees.) My friend’s father was still alive, and when she told him I was there, he remarked what a gracious lady my mother was.
She was. She never lost her smile, or her ability to laugh. Not even when she suffered a debilitating stroke that left her unable to speak, read or write, and partially paralyzed. I spoke to her a week before she died, and even though I couldn’t understand a word she said, I understood her laughter.
This year, my son is moving away, as am I. I will miss that kid so much. I just hope, as he begins this new phase of his life, he will always know, as I did, that he has value, that he deserves love and belonging, just because he exists on this earth, for no other reason. That one thing, knowing that one thing, will be his rock to stand on, as it was mine. The fact that he is my son is my blessing.
Happy Mother’s Day, everyone.
learningtolivelikewaterblog.com 
How blessed you were to have such a wonderful mama. I’m sure your son feels about you, the same way you feel about your mama.
Happy Mothers’ Day, Deb. 🙂
Thanks laurel. I was, and I know it. I’ve had my share of darkness, not as much as many people but enough to know I was lost, and the light she shined for me was always there.
I hope you have a great day planned. 🙂
A good friend has invited us over for a brunch. After that, I just want to clean out my fridge, lol. Exciting. Plus I told my son we’d get the stuff to make chicken soup. It will be nice. xo….
Sounds wonderful. I’m going to get back home and try to “decompress” after five days of pure hell. LOL
I just sent you an email. Do tell me about the 5 days….Hope it wasn’t your teeth again. Or something worse….
Deb…I WISH it was about my teeth. THAT would have been a breeze. (I’ll check my email.)
And now, I know your name!
Such a sweet, beautiful post.
Happy Mother’s Day! *big hugs*
Thanks! I am so blessed….
Hugz… Happy mothers day to you 🙂 Your mother maybe gone in physically but she is with you, within you. 🙂
Lots of love
Hema
Thanks.. I know. I feel her all the time. I never lived near her as an adult, but now I feel like she’s with me all the time, really. It’s very cool.
So sad that your mother is gone! I can understand that is extra hard on a day like this.
How amazing still, that she led such a long life, 94 is a very impressive age! I wonder if she lived so long cause of the light she seemed to have within her… I am sure she was a wonderful person and that she is still looking out for you, from a better place. So amazing that you can still feel her love around you. We never lose that love, it stays with us. Am sure you are the same = a great mother to your son, and that he will always feel your love, too. Aah what a great post. Very uplifting. 🙂 Have a great day!
Aww thanks S. Glad you enjoyed it. Xx