Mother's Day Tribute

Mother's Day is a wonderful time to honor our mothers and the sacrifices they make to love us well. Here is a tribute submitted by one of our readers. We hope it will encourage others to express their love and gratefulness to Moms everywhere!

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Dear Mom,
What will my children say of me when they are grown?  What kind of mistakes will they have to forgive me for?  This job of being a mother is so much harder than it looks but I really love it.  Now that I’ve been at this a while, I have new eyes with which to see you: my wonderful mother.

I look back on a childhood that was filled with fun and love.  I remember you always kept us warm and well-fed, even when that had to be an overwhelming struggle.  Somehow, I never felt that struggle.  All I knew was that I was safe, that my little tummy was full and my bed was clean and comfortable and warm.  I am amazed at the way you took so much care to decorate the homes we lived in, to make them so much more than just dwelling places, probably knowing full well we wouldn’t be there long.  (Landlords didn’t seem too fond of a family with six children.)  Thank you for never blaming us for how hard your life was.

I remember how you would tuck us into bed at night and sing “Jesus Loves Me” and we would exchange “I love you all the…” phrases.  So many things in our home just said “security”, “stability”.  I always knew what to expect because you made our lives consistent and you were so good at managing a home and family.

Thank you for tacos and Pepsi on TV trays, for Burt Bacharach and Andy Williams and Jack Jones.  Thank you for Christmases that went way beyond the budget because you loved giving to us so much.  I remember well decorating the tree with Ray Coniff playing in the background.  Thank you for dinner at the Pickle Barrel on my 11th birthday, which I will never forget.  I also remember laughing until our sides ached over those inside family jokes.

I know things were not always fun and games though.  There were a lot of very difficult times for all of us.  But even through those times, I saw your character.  You showed me what it means to honor your husband – no matter what - and how you kept trying when you had to have felt so alone and so unappreciated by all of us.  You were, and still are, a fabulous mom.  I love you all the grains of sand on all the beaches in the whole wide world.          
Joanie Marie