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Blue Springs, MO —
While raising children, my favorite day was always Mother’s Day. In my opinion, there is no better day than one devoted to honoring mothers.
I have volumes of my kids’ homemade cards, straw or paper clip flowers, clay models of vases and butterflies, and numerous birdhouses.
I can’t throw them away – although, I have tried.
Go ahead and offer me a lottery ticket, a new car or a $200 pair of shoes to give up these priceless memorabilia. It simply won’t happen.
These precious children’s gifts are invaluable.
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share with you a short story about a mother I know. I’m not going to use her name because I want her to be surprised.
My friend is now over 80 years old. Her life was not easy. However, she faced everything with determination, acceptance and trust – trust in God.
She lived on a farm, where life came with hard work, including early morning chores of milking cows and feeding chickens. Saturday was market day when they sold vegetables from their garden and chickens, or their eggs.
When my friend was 7 years old, her mother was expecting a sixth child. In the crisis of a challenging pregnancy and pneumonia, her mother was placed in the hospital and, shortly thereafter, passed away.
I can’t imagine the grief in my friend’s home. Here was a young father with five children, my friend being the oldest daughter.
At the young age of 7, my friend became the mother. On top of the farming responsibilities, she took over the daily meals and laundry, then walked to school.
My friend cared for her siblings as if they were her own children. Even if her sibs got in trouble, she ran defense for them.
Eventually, my friend married. They were poor, living in a one-room apartment. They decided to start a family.
Her husband grew his own business and money was tight. They had five children before another tragedy fell upon my friend.
She received a phone call from the hospital, where they had rushed her husband. Her husband has been hit by a drunk driver at 8 a.m. that morning. He hit the windshield with such force, that it took two trips to two local hospitals before one would take him.
Today, that would be called a traumatic brain injury. However, in 1962, not much was known about head injuries.
While raising children, my favorite day was always Mother’s Day. In my opinion, there is no better day than one devoted to honoring mothers.
I have volumes of my kids’ homemade cards, straw or paper clip flowers, clay models of vases and butterflies, and numerous birdhouses.
I can’t throw them away – although, I have tried.
Go ahead and offer me a lottery ticket, a new car or a $200 pair of shoes to give up these priceless memorabilia. It simply won’t happen.
These precious children’s gifts are invaluable.
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I’d like to share with you a short story about a mother I know. I’m not going to use her name because I want her to be surprised.
My friend is now over 80 years old. Her life was not easy. However, she faced everything with determination, acceptance and trust – trust in God.
She lived on a farm, where life came with hard work, including early morning chores of milking cows and feeding chickens. Saturday was market day when they sold vegetables from their garden and chickens, or their eggs.
When my friend was 7 years old, her mother was expecting a sixth child. In the crisis of a challenging pregnancy and pneumonia, her mother was placed in the hospital and, shortly thereafter, passed away.
I can’t imagine the grief in my friend’s home. Here was a young father with five children, my friend being the oldest daughter.
At the young age of 7, my friend became the mother. On top of the farming responsibilities, she took over the daily meals and laundry, then walked to school.
My friend cared for her siblings as if they were her own children. Even if her sibs got in trouble, she ran defense for them.
Eventually, my friend married. They were poor, living in a one-room apartment. They decided to start a family.
Her husband grew his own business and money was tight. They had five children before another tragedy fell upon my friend.
She received a phone call from the hospital, where they had rushed her husband. Her husband has been hit by a drunk driver at 8 a.m. that morning. He hit the windshield with such force, that it took two trips to two local hospitals before one would take him.
Today, that would be called a traumatic brain injury. However, in 1962, not much was known about head injuries.
For the next decade or so, the doctors attempted to repair his body. He had a broken jaw, crushed face bones, back and chest injuries, and the list goes on and on. Of course, he lost his business, and my friend had to once again take over as parent and provider.
She’d go to work at 2 a.m., so she could be home to get her children off to school. She did baby-sitting and canned all her own food. She couldn’t drive, so she walked everywhere.
In spite of all else, she was also a model of service to others. Sunday dinners were shared with family, friends and church members. If anyone needed anything – personal items, canned goods or a listening ear – she’d willingly share.
Their marriage of 65 years is still intact. Although, her husband had a stroke, which left him paralyzed and unable to communicate, and she is once again a caregiver and the breadwinner.
What can I possibly say to my friend, who has been the most exemplary tender, loving, caring person in the world?
Thanks mom. I love you.
