HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
To all the women who carry the role and title of mother – Happy Mother’s Day to you – You are Loved – You are Appreciated – You are Noticed. I wanted to post my words of respect to those Mom’s who give selflessly to their children and families everyday. I honor you because I know as a mother it takes love, patience and sometimes fortitude to show up everyday. Being a Mother is a loving sacrifice that one chooses. There are days you may not feel much like Mom but you do what needs to be done – you show up – you are there.
Today, although typical of any other sunday except I decided to give myself the day off. It’s important to just stop and breathe. Many of you Mom’s out there know at times it’s difficult to do this but you must at least try if only for one day or one hour. Me, my life is like a whirlwind literally at times and my days start at 5:30 AM and ends… well it ends later than I would like at times but that’s what it is like in my world of Motherhood at least for the moment. There are days that I reflect back to my maternal grandmother and how she LOVED her children, grandchildren, the neighborhood children – children in general and she never complained about her role as a Mother.
Me, I am guilty as charged if I am to be completely honest about the complaining but I have learned that it doesn’t change anything – it gives one more reasons to find other things to complain about. So when I catch myself doing that (and I have to catch myself these days – I have a teenager), I think of my Grandmother and how she would get on anyone who complained about the blessings of children. Of course she had 19 of them, my mother being the last child and a twin. So I got to thinking – for my Gra’Mama to do what she did all those years until she died at the age of 103 and not complain – I would begin to feel silly and refer to her words of wisdom and comfort and immediately shut my mouth. In a lot of ways she could be likened to the character Job. Although she wasn’t a rich woman in material things, she was rich in spirit, patience and an ambassador of unconditional love. I do not exaggerate here and for anyone who knows what it was like to be in her presence or to experience her kindness and generosity you would understand why I say this. Many did and she became like a mother to a lot of people.
We are so used to giving our all as Mom’s that we forget to take care of ourselves at times. If you are truly a giving and nurturing person in general, you will understand this issue as well. Moving on now…..I digress a little….I enjoyed my morning coffee and little tokens, hugs and kisses from all of my children except my youngest. He waited and hesitantly came to my room and handed me his card he made. I asked him why we was feeling so shy about it and he said he wanted to give me something more than just a card. I hugged him and gave him a big fat kiss and said, gimme my card – anything you give Mommy is GREAT because it’s from you. I opened the card and read it and was tickled pink about his words.
I asked him if he wrote it all by himself or did his teacher help, he said no I wrote it but she printed it out in a very matter-of-fact and proud way. Yep, should have known better than to ask him, my youngest is very matter-of-factly at his age and often looks at people with this – why do you ask the most ridiculous question look at times. I swear he is too old for his age. He went on in his card about the things he finds great about me as a Mom (as most Kids do which I am grateful) but what stood out was that he described me as cool. I found it funny because I would have thought that was the last thing he would say considering I try to run a tight ship best I can. I asked him why and what he thought was so cool about me and what he said hit a nerve but the type that tears one up. He said, Mom you are always trying so hard and you never give up no matter what – and you never give up on us!
Needless to say I was deeply touched and it made my heart sing and I will continue to live up to those words. Every now and then I know we Mom’s think – am I doing this right? Is this enough? I only have one thing to say in closing – keep doing the best you can and keep loving your children as hard as you can. Trust that you are doing the best you can right now.
- To all the Mom’s who think that your efforts and words of encouragement are falling on deaf ears – NEVER GIVE UP!
- To all the Mom’s who are trying hard and some with hardly anything to work with – NEVER GIVE UP!
- To all the single Mom’s who feel you are alone – NEVER GIVE UP!
- To all the Mom’s who show up everyday as a parent for your children – NEVER GIVE UP!
- To all the Mom’s who feel their child has fallen by the way side – NEVER GIVE UP!
Be an example of love, persistence and forgiveness and never- ever give up!
Tags: christmas miller, Happy Mother's Day, love, never give up, persistence