Ha. I guess this photo on the right kind of makes me laugh. All the years that I have been a mother, I don't think I have said those words. It seems appropriate on Mother's Day to take a step back and look at myself through the lens of motherhood. I have known many mothers in my life, and I have watched them operate on a daily basis through all kinds of situations. I have watched mothers work through raising kids without a partner, I have seen women taking care of their own children at the same time they are taking care of aging parents... I have watched women struggle as they battled their own illnesses at the same time that they were raising their family. (I've even tasted that experience to some extent myself, with the onset of Epilepsy at the age of 38, now almost 15 years ago - a life altering event.) I think that some moms are superhuman in their ability to deal with life and all of its challenges, and the bounds of their hearts are limitless. I think that as a mom, I have been a pretty good one. I am proud of the potential that I have to be able to do even better in the future, as the mother of adults. I am still learning. My oldest son called me the first thing this morning to wish me a happy mother's day, and I then began to get a long string of greetings from others on my iPhone -several friends, some relatives, some students and others who just happened to think of me as their Mothers' Day was getting underway. That made me start thinking about how others might perceive me as a maternal figure in their lives. What a great feeling, knowing that I am on that level with so many people. It made me think about myself and how I must be doing some things right. It's good to know that some of my personal qualities are at the level that I would expect of myself at my age. Being a mother is a real honor. Happy Mother's Day.
The following poem by Kari Kishmiry strikes me as the ideal for motherhood:
When God set the world in place,
when He hung the stars up in space,
when He made the land and the sea,
then He made you and me.
He sat back and saw all that was good,
He saw things to be as they should.
Just one more blessing He had in store;
He created a mother, but whatever for?
He knew a mother would have a special place
to shine His reflection on her child's face.
A mother will walk the extra mile
just to see her children smile.
She'll work her fingers to the bone
to make a house into a home.
A mother is there to teach and guide,
a mother will stay right by your side.
She'll be there through your pain and strife,
she'll stay constant in your life.
A mother will lend a helping hand
until you have the strength to stand.
She'll pick you up when you are down,
when you need a friend she'll stick around.
A mother is one who listens well,
will keep her word; will never tell.
A mother never pokes or pries
but stands quietly by your side,
giving you the strength you need,
encouraging you to succeed.
A mother is one who can be strong
when you need someone to lean on.
You're more than a mother to me;
a reflection of Him in your face I see,
a love that knows no boundaries.
I'm glad that you chose to be
all this and more to me.
You share a love that knows no end,
you're more than my mother,
you are my friend.
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