By Martha Bolton:
Image by Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
To the children of my dear sister Melva and other children who are missing mom on Mother’s Day since my sister’s death: It’s tough. I think about her constantly. Probably at the same times you do.
And to grieving readers missing mom on Mother’s Day, and every other day:
I know how it feels when you have good news and you want to call Mom and tell her all about it. When you have bad news and you want to call her and tell her about it. You want to call when you’re:
worried,
fearful,
frustrated,
wondering what the future holds,
wondering what today holds,
wondering where you’re ever going to get the strength to do all you need to do,
need courage to do what you have to do, and
need wisdom to do what you need to do . . . when you’re not even sure what that is.
If your mom was like my sister Melva, she was an ever ready listening ear, a deep well of advice (some instinctual, some garnered from a vast library of self-help books), and she was a ready hug whenever you needed it. You didn’t even have to ask for it. She was there and ready to give it.
I miss my sister, but ever since her death, I’ve had more courage. I’m certainly not there yet, but at least I reach down and pull it out from some place–all I have to do is remember how she faced her challenges in the end, how she rose to the occasion, how she pulled strength from God and just did it. What an amazing woman! If she could face everything she went through in life, then we can face what we go through.
She proved that life is really a matter of accepting the things we cannot change, having the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
This Mother’s Day I know my sister’s kids were blessed with an incredible mother. Were you also? Sing your mother’s praises every chance you get. The world didn’t give my sister enough praise. She deserved so much more. She may have been afraid of steep roads, but she was courageous and kept on going in spite of her fear. She may have been weak in defending herself, but she was one of the strongest women I know. She may not have had a lot, but she gave what she had, mainly her time to listen to someone else’s pain.
I wish you all a Happy Mother’s Day of Remembering an Awesome Woman. May you feel your own mother’s presence through every photo you see, every memory you savor, and every laugh you remember. She’s with God, telling him all about each one of you. He already knows it all, but she’s saying it anyway. That’s how proud she is of you.
©Martha Bolton. Martha has written for many well-known comedians including Bob Hope and Phyllis Diller and is also a novelist. She was nominated for both an Emmy and Dove Award for lyrics and scriptwriting and has written award-winning parodies. Find out more about Martha at marthabolton.com.
