Mother's Day

What can compare to the beauty of a mother?
She who has been charged by Almighty God to be the wellspring of life.
She who endures untold pain to bring each of us into the world.
She who's heart can hold each one of us with room to spare.
Her endurance is unmatched.
Her forgiveness is unfathomable.
Her love.....unconditional.
Who is always there to dry your tears?
Who could always feel your pain, and be the first to share in your joy?
Who can you always talk to - even when you don't know what to say?

Mother.

I write this in appreciation.
For all she ever did.
For everything she said.
Because she always knew how to make me smile.
Because she never gave up on me.
Because no matter how much I disappointed, she never stopped loving me.
Because even though I often misunderstood her, I never stopped loving her.

You see, my mom has gone on.

She went home to be with the Lord.

On Mother's Day.

Its been five years now, and well.....

I miss her.

I miss her laugh. I miss her smile. I miss her prying into my business and driving me crazy. I miss her sitting behind me in church and telling my childhood secrets to total strangers. I miss her calling me every year and singing "I Just Called To Say I Love You" on my birthday. I miss the awkward walk she developed from the ravages of arthritis. I miss going by her house and falling asleep on her bed when I just wanted to go somewhere to get some peace and quiet. I miss knowing I had someone in my life that I knew it was always okay to be myself around.

Now.

Don't get me wrong.

My mom is gone.

But I'm not sad.

I'm thankful.

Thankful that in a cold and God forsaken world such as this, I had a mother that never stopped loving and never stopped trying. I'm thankful that she took the time to make sure I knew right from wrong, and made sure I always tried to do what's right. I'm thankful that she demanded we always treat everyone we meet like they are precious in God's sight. And, I'm thankful that she never let me give up on myself.

If I could have one more day with her, I know just what I'd say. The entire day would be filled with the same phrase - over and over, all day and night - but even if I had ten thousand tongues there still would not be enough time to tell her these three words as many times as she deserved to hear them. So every Mother's Day I reminisce. I savor the joys, the pains, the laughter and the tears; the good times and the bad times; the conversations and even the disagreements. I remember everything she was - her strengths and her faults - because those are the things that made her real. But most of all, I remember the love.

Mommy....

I love you.

Still....


HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY