A Tribute to my Mother

Earlier this week I sat at my kitchen table eating dinner with a dear friend (since both of our husbands were working late) and I found myself in a familiar place. Not familiar because I have lived it but because a majority of my friends have found themselves there so I hear about this place. The place of having a broken relationship with their mother. Relationships that are based on manipulation, unrealistic expectations, never enough, intrusive, etc. I looked at my friend and said, "I am sorry but I cannot even pretend to know what that is like. I have no basis of understanding. I really have nothing to say since my relationship with my mother is the polar opposite."

And I am coming to realize slowly but shorely that the relationship I have with my mother must not be the norm. My experience is that of a relationship built on trust, of mutual friendship, of love. She really is one of my best friends! I know I will get wisdom, Godly counsel and truth when I speak with her!

Her life has not been one of ease I can assure you! She has worked harder than a woman should have to work in order to keep things running smoothly. On those days I find myself wanting to complain about my life I think of hers and thank God instead! Seriously......crazy amounts of hard work! And at the time of her life when she should have been able to start thinking of cutting back I watched her walk with absolute integrity through the dissolving of her marriage. Those initial weeks and months were extremely difficult but her faith never once wavered!

At different times I will get hit with this wave of understanding that someday I will not be able to pick up the phone to tell her about my day or the antics of my children and I am deeply saddened. I try not to think about that reality because the lump in my throat becomes almost impossible to swallow around. I know now more than ever that I have been given a tremendous gift of friendship with my mother. She is one of my biggest supporters and the thought of having that support beam gone is almost more than I can handle.

She has more friends than most and I think it is a testament to her gift of friendship. She has friends from grade school and friends who are young enough to be her daughters. I cannot begin to tell you how often when I call she has a friend there for lunch, is making dinner for a friend that is coming over, going out to breakfast with a friend, etc. She is a wealthy woman when it comes to friendship and I really hope I follow in her footsteps in that regard.

So Mom....if you are reading this I just want you to know that you are deeply loved! Even though we all give you a hard time about so many things (esp childhood walking buddies to school) I think deep down you know we couldn't be prouder of how you have lived out your life. Especially the past 10 years! I know without a shadow of doubt that God smiles on you every day!

I know my mother helped to shape and mold the person I am today. And I am grateful she was the one with whom God entrusted me. And this is my bumbling attempt at saying I think my mother is pretty great!!