The loving bond between my folks must have been a truly rare and precious one indeed. For as I grew up, Mother’s vivid descriptions of my Father gave me insights not only of who he was, what he valued, and his character; but also of her abiding love for him. Her expressions of admiration and devotion fostered a vision of the kind of man I wanted to be.
Mother’s reflections and vision of my father, gave me a deep seated set of values, priorities, and understandings that have carried me for sixty years. Mother taught me the importance of love, loyalty, hope, and family.
I am sure Mother was disappointed in me from time to time, but even her correction was gentle. When she spoke, she seemed to have a magical way of changing my whole perspective.
Mother insisted that all things are possible. If I would just set my mind and heart on doing something and worked at it long enough; nothing is impossible. There have been many times when I felt that such thinking was just wishful thinking. Yet, although I struggled in school, I set my sights on college and graduated with honors. After sixty years, Mother is still right. The possibilities are endless.
Mother had an impact on everything often without ever saying a word. When I think back to my youthful romantic life, I do not remember Mom every saying anything about the girls I dated. When I got engaged, it was no different.
As my fianc started expressing a desire for a wedding date, Mother said nothing. As far as I was concerned, the pressures had begun to mount. I am not sure what I expected, but the more a wedding was discussed, the less sure I became. One afternoon I was lying on my bed in my bedroom, thinking actually stressing out. Mother peeked in and stopped. Then she spoke one of those rare sentences that changed my life. All she said was that I did not have to get married. In that moment, I experienced a huge relief.
It never occurred to me that Mother had unspoken issues at the time. It actually took over forty years for me to learn the whole truth. Mother chose her words very carefully, but it was only years later that I learned about her worries and conversations she had with my fianc at the time. I marvel, at how tactfully Mother has guided me all these years.
Mother is now ninety three years old. She has been faithful to her church since I can remember. She practices a quiet prayerful faith that inspires more by example than by noisy declarations. Her faith has never noticeably wavered.
How people face adversity if often more indicative of their character that how they handle good times. Mother certainly faced more than her share of adversity. Youngest daughter of a share cropper, divorced at seventeen, widowed with five children, and more heartache came her way.
In all of these things, Mother revealed a grace and outlook on life that have inspired a positive view of life. When things were tough, she always had a way of seeing a silver lining.
When times are tough, her grace under pressure comes to mind. When I have faced disappointment or struggles, remembering her positive spirit has helped me endure. Amazingly, things always get better after a crisis.
Mother inspired me with a vision of family and the values of love, commitment, and endurance.
I give tribute to my Mother and appreciate her fabulous example.
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categories: mother,parenting,mother’s day,marriage,wedding,love,discipline,teaching,relationships,life,home
