A Mothers Love Lives Forever – Mother’s Day

As I approach this first Mother’s Day without my Mom, I am not sure what to expect. Mom passed away in January 2021 of COVID-19.

I can say however, that what is not lost is the love I knew that was my Mother. Her love wasn’t always obvious, but shown in the quiet, strong way she guided she supported her husband and children.

If there was a picture besides the word Love in the dictionary, it would be a picture of my Mom. Mom was feisty, fearless and loving.

1. My Mother’s love was making sure her children knew the power of prayer. As a child through adulthood, I remember hearing Mom and Dad praying together before we got up in the morning and again at night before they went to bed. We always prayed before I got the road to head back to Atlanta. Even as the dementia began to take hold of her mind, Mom remembered to pray. She never missed an opportunity to keep us covered in prayer.

2. My Mother’s love showed up in being a support of her husband’s and children’s dreams and goals. I can remember her working extra jobs while Dad got his college degree and making sure her children were college educated. She sacrificed her dream of being a nurse in order for us to achieve ours.

3. My mother’s love showed up in making sure we were cared for and fed! If you came to our house, she would ask if you wanted dinner or sweet potato pie. She was active, fun and would spend many hours with her children and grandchildren playing board games, volleyball, and shooting hoops. She was always up for the challenge even well into her 80’s.

My favorite story and recent memory is a testament to power of her love for my Dad. In December of 2019 Dad was in the hospital with heart issues. Mom was recuperating from a broken hip that occurred during a fall in October of 2019. Mom and I were visiting Dad at the hospital and I stepped away to go the cafeteria to pick up some snacks. When I returned Mom was in the hospital bed with Dad! I was stunned and could not figure out how she with a broken hip climbed into that hospital bed (at 93 years old!).

People often tell me that I am strong—if I am, it is by God’s strength and the example of my Mother. I am grateful for her legacy of strength and love. I am she and she is me.

Your mother and your child are typically the two bookends of your life. It is a weird and sometimes sad and scary feeling to be left in the middle -alone. I now see how blessed I was to have experienced both the unconditional love of a child and a mother. And although, neither are here to celebrate Mother’s Day with me, I feel their spirits in my soul. Not just today, but every day and I am grateful!Happy Mother’s Day!

A Mother’s love lives forever!