Mothers Day

Mother’s Day has passed for 2015 and it was very nice. I received a beautiful necklace/bracelet set and cards and hugs and kisses from my best guys. 

I spent time with Mama at the Assisted Living facility, where a gentleman named Ted played the guitar to some recorded background music. He was really good but he stuck his tongue out in a weird way before he started singing each time and that freaked me out. But I digress. 

The songs in his songbook were classics, “Grand Old Flag,” “Tip Toe Through the Tulips,” and “You Are My Sunshine.” Then came the ones that slay me. The hymns.

Gonna lay down my burdens, down by the river side

And He walks with me and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own

My sin not in part but the whole. Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Oh my soul!

The joy on the faces of those that had lived a lifetime while singing these treasures was too much. I was a crying mess. I was fixin’ to raise up and get on out of there.

Then he did it. Ted. That horrible man. He throat-punched me with “Amazing Grace.” It was Mama’s favorite. I looked at her and she was singing her little heart out. It was precious and overwhelming. 

I wished that we could always be this way. Getting along.  Enjoying each other. Happy. 

But I know we will fuss. I’ll get my feelings hurt when she asks why I don’t bring the kids every day. Taking what she says as a slight against my choices. She will get hers hurt when I don’t want to stay and have lunch with her. 

But in the moment, on Mothers Day, we are free to sing and rejoice because right then, we weren’t blinded by regrets, unforgiveness, bitterness, anger. We saw each other as mother and daughter. And we loved. 

This is one of Mama’s Favorite Poems:

“Legacy of an Adopted Child”

Author Unknown

Once there were two women who never knew each other,

One – you do not remember, the other you call mother.

Two different lives shaped to make yours,

One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.

The first gave you life, and the second taught you to live in it.

The first gave you a need for love and the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality; the other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent; the other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions; the other calmed your fears.

One saw your first sweet smile; the other dried your tears.

One gave you up – that’s all she could do.

The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.

Now you ask through all your tears the age-old question through the years;

Heredity or environment – which are you a product of?

Neither, my darling – neither – just two different kinds of love.

Blessings and Love!!!!