Happy Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is Sunday!
Mom died on August 31st, 2000,
thirteen years ago, two days before
her 50th anniversary.
Among other things I remember,
she was a gourmet cook
taking great pride in studying
the art of cooking, often
falling asleep reading a cookbook.
Among other things
I remember her taking me to the
Mayo Clinic when I was four
to have my heart examined.
Among other things,
she would always prepare my
favorite meal for my birthday.
Among other things,
She gave me perhaps the best
advice anyone ever gave me.
“It is not what happens to you
that matters, but how you take it
and what you do with it.” The value
of these words were immeasurable
to a 10 year old who took everything
way too seriously.
Among other things,
she was a perfectionist
and could remember things
years later, which no one remembered
the next day.
Among other things,
she worked in the office
side by side with my Dad in our family
business and kept a sharp eye on things.
Among other things,
she served her country well in World War II
as a United States Marine.
Among other things,
she was an exacting church secretary at
First Christian in Corbin for years.
Among other things,
at times she used humor
to get her point across.
Among other things,
she was silent when she needed
to be silent regarding me and my
choices and spoke up when I
needed to hear what she had to say.
There were things I wished she had
discussed with me which she chose
not to discuss with me which would
have been great teaching moments
and would have brought us closer
together, instead she left me wondering
on some important choices she made.
I guess that is the only thing I would
change about her.
And as a result, I would encourage parents
to find ways to talk to their children
about sensitive issues, in ways that
would help their children grow in their
ability to navigate the sometimes
confusing and treacherous waters of life.
Moving to the deeper places,
Jeff