Sweet memories on Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day in the United States is an annual holiday celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Mother’s Day recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well as the positive contributions that women/mothers/stepmothers/grandmothers, etc. make to society.

This statement covers a huge area in my thoughts.  Because of my grandmother’s illness – my mother was called on at an early age to help take care of her younger siblings.  Life was not easy for her – my dad was a little too harsh to her sometimes even though he was a kind person at heart.

I seem to know more about my mother than my siblings, maybe because I’m a lot like her or just because I paid more attention to her.  She was a stay at home mom, it was a long time ago and women seldom worked outside the home.  She made our clothes, kept us clean and well fed.  For sure, we did not appreciate the things “Mama” did for us – I wonder sometimes how she accomplished what she did.

My mother was my Sunday school teacher when our church was a one room building and we had to meet outside or in the car if it was cold.  She was good teacher, studied the lessons and was well prepared to teach us.  This was her joy in life and when they chose not to let her continue, it broke her heart and as I look back on the years, I’m not sure she recovered from that decision. She did not have a forgiving heart and carried too many unforgiven things with her all the time.  And I know this weighted heavily on her heart.  I did learn from knowing this about my mother – forgiveness and kindness are two things I want to have in my heart all the time.  She taught me about kindness – even though she didn’t seem to be so kind as she grew older, but I think that was battle she lost as life treated her not so good most of her life.

One of my favorite “Mama” memories is having hot tea cakes ready when we got home from school and now I have the habit of wanting to eat a cookie as soon as I get home from work – she loved doing that for her children.  Another memory – we had to carry lunch to school when the cafeteria burned and she would only let us carry ham sandwiches with neatly trimmed bread – but I traded with a girl in my class for her fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the big slices of bread and that made us both happy.  I told my mother about that many years later.  She tried so hard to make things good for us.

She said over and over again to be careful with what you say – because your tongue can do a lot of damage that cannot be taken back.  Over the years, I remember these words the most when I find myself with angry thoughts or words that want to spill out.  This scripture comes to mind: Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

My mother was not perfect – none of us are – but I do think she did a good job with her children and I am thankful for her and the things she taught me – I may not cook and sew now – but I do know how, thanks to her.

Judy Faile Day