“The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”
James E. Faust
What sort of mother do you or did you have? There are homebody moms, executive moms, teacher moms and some who seem to do it all–and with grace and efficiency.
My mom was a housewife most of her childrearing years. When I was about nine or ten, she went to work and continued to work as a practical nurse until she finally retired. She was not a demonstrative type–not a hugger. I remember falling asleep in the car and my head would land on the fur-like collar of her winter coat. She allowed me to rest there, but she didn’t put her arm around me. In our family you were expected to bring home good report cards–there were no rewards like I heard about from my friends. She didn’t show her feelings or talk about them much. I was sick and asked if I should go to school. She said, “You know how you feel.” We were expected to go to school unless seriously ill.
I learned about her love from the things she did for me and my sisters. When I wanted to go skating as a girl of twelve or thirteen, she would rummage in her purse and come up with the fifty-cents it would cost, even though it seemed there was no money. Sometimes there was money and more often not, because of the way my father worked. He was likely to drink a lot of his pay on the way home from work. But we always had a garden and raised a beef or hog for our meat. Mom could rustle up a delicious meal when someone stopped to visit with the canned items from the basement.
That was the way she showed love, by making good meals and showing hospitality.
Because of the way she was, I determined to show my love for my kids more openly and tell them often how much they meant to me.
Regardless of the kind of mother–they are worthy of our respect and thanks, in most cases. If you didn’t experience a mother’s love; determine to do better in your life. Thank the stand-in mothers in your life, the aunts, teachers, and others who influenced your growing and learning.
I can think of a couple other women who were role models for me and helped me become the person I am. Thank you all!
“Happy New Year!” I’ve heard it from many friends and family members, but almost all add,”Hope next year’s better, good riddance to 2020,” or a similar sentiment. No doubt that it has been a difficult year and for many–a terrible year of sickness and loss. I began to think about what I would like to reach for in 2021. I came up with a few words that fit the things I most want to live toward in this new year.
N-E-W Y-E-A-R
N – Non judgmental attitude. Everyone has something that they’re hiding, working on, grieving, or may be simply blind to.
E – Eager – I want to wake up eager to face the day, see new things or at least see in a new way.
W – I’ll try to write every day, if only to help myself figure out what I believe and where I stand on the issues of today.
Y – Yesterday is gone. Don’t keep mulling it over. MOVE ON.
E – Enough – I have enough and I am enough.
A – Active – It’s important to stay active. Word could be ambulate, amble, accelerate…
R – Respond -React and respond when I feel that urges to call someone, or write a note, etc. My time or that person’s may be shorter than we know.
These are a few of my “words.” Think of a word or words that sum up your wishes for the new year. I would love to hear what you come up with.
Connie's Comments and Verse 