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I hear people grunt
and groan about the holidays. "They have become too commercialized", or "I just
can't afford another gift right now". It saddens me. Holidays don't have to be
about the money. The gifts that are remembered are the ones that come from the
heart. Particularly on Mother's Day.
For those of us who
were lucky enough to have a mother who took time out of her life to make sure
our needs were met, Mother's Day should be particularly important. As we grew
up, dad was the rock who kept us safe and secure, but mom, well, mom was the
pillow that caught us when we fell.
She could take our
heartache and fears and make us believe that everything would be all right. Her
kiss on the latest 'boo-boo' seemed to magically make the pain disappear. Her
joy and pride at even our most minor accomplishments made us feel like we could
take on the world.
I will never forget
when I was four. Mom had me drink my milk each afternoon on the little enclosed
porch that was just off the kitchen. One day, she was in the kitchen cleaning
up and I sat there afraid. I kept hearing noises and was sure that there was a
ghost. I yelled in at her "Mom?"
She replied, "Yes,
Trish."
"Mom I hear ghosts."
She reassured me
there was no such thing as ghosts. The next day, the same thing happened. Again
she told me not to be afraid. That could have been the end of it but I guess she
thought about it, figured out what I was hearing, and wanted to put my mind at
ease. That afternoon she took me upstairs to meet the people who lived above us.
Apparently they had just moved in and that was the sounds I had been hearing. I
wasn't afraid anymore and that was that. However as I look back on it, I am so
grateful to have had a mother who cared enough to not just reassure me, but to
convince me there was nothing to be afraid of.
Many of us have
these kinds of memories. The ones that at the time, we take for granted, but as
we grow older, we come to appreciate how much our mother loved us and sacrificed
to make our lives better. After all, even if your mother wasn't perfect, chances
are, she did the best she could.
If you are still
lucky enough to have your mother in your life, do something special this
Mother's Day. Giving a gift is fine but should be done within your budget and
without complaint, but go beyond that. Remember one special thing your mother
did for you. Write her a card, letter, or note telling her how much it means to
you that she was that kind of mother. Let her know that you love and appreciate
her everyday.
The next time you
complain about another holiday or having to come up with the money for another
gift, remember this:
Mom deserves at least one day a year to be in the spotlight. A time to be
reminded how very much she is loved and needed in your life. |
