Mom

Proverbs 31:25-31 tells of a virtuous woman. I was in the company of a virtuous one I call my mother. I was blessed with the opportunity to spend the weekend with her as we live four and a half hours away from each other. My mother is a couple of weeks shy of turning 80 years old. As I continue to grow in age, I realize how wise my mother is. She truly is a follower of God and His word. Countless times I call and interrupt her (by accident) while she is watching daily mass online or praying a rosary or chaplet. That is a role model for you—praying without ceasing, essentially. Countless times I have called and asked her (and dad) to pray for something specifically. I know they do and then on the daily, they pray for their now grown children and their grandchildren and great grandchildren. That is one way I wish to emulate my mother. Another way I wish to emulate mom is with her wise advice. I hope to continue fostering my relationships with my children and be able to impart wise advice like mom does! She has a gentle way of listening and then sharing her thinking. That is definitely one of her strengths. Her body may be slowing her down a bit, but you will find her outside doing yard work alongside my dad (when it is not too hot!).

We were talking about an interview I recently listened to and the author speaking said she wasn't mature enough (early on in her life) to ask her mother questions about her. They were separated because of war or something like that and she and her mother wrote to each other, daily. So not only does she have a daily account of her own life (for years), but she also has that of her mother's... in her own hand. I think that is a rich treasure far beyond worth. So, of course, I asked my mom to write to me! I don't expect anything daily, but I would love to have some handwritten documentation of her life, thinking, affirmations, anything she would like to share with me. I am mature enough now to ask questions and wise enough to record her answers in one form or another. For those of you who are younger mothers, you might consider leaving accounts of what you want your descendants know about you. We all have life stories to share. They become mirrors of sorts as your children and grandchildren find out the things they have in common with you and the things that you differ in—thinking and beliefs. Handwritten (or typed) accounts are priceless.

One of the highlights of my time with mom this weekend was when we went to church and she was introducing Joel and I to the priest. Afterward Mom started walking to the pew and turned back to tell him that I was the greatest blessing she had received because I had made her a mom! I had never heard my mom say that before. She explained the meaning of my given name, Theodora. It means a "gift from God." I am my paternal grandmother's namesake. It was special to hear mom tell the priest that —especially on Mother's Day. If you are blessed to still have your mother in your life, take all the opportunities you can to"really" get to know her because that also helps you know yourself. We aren't guaranteed even one day. Don't squander your time with her. If you no longer have your mother on Earth, give thanks for the time you were blessed with her and know that she loved you so much, she gave life to you. One last thing for all of us—don't let it just be Mother's Day that we tell our mothers how much they mean to us.

I love you, Mom.