Happy Mother's Day

It’s Mother’s Day.


After church, we took a long nap. It was a napping kind of day. And while whipping up an apple cake for JC’s softball game tomorrow night, I had a moment to day dream. I find that cooking and baking and doing dishes are familiar things to me – comforting and joyous at the same time.

Maybe it was my upbringing, but kitchen duties are my best therapy.

And, I need it today. My mother, who will be 80 this year – wow – where did the time go, is not celebrating “her” day today. Rather, she is on her way to Rochester, Minn. And, we all know why people go to Rochester.

So, I’m thinking about her. My card, I just love picking out mother’s day cards, has a small verse that said when I do things, I stop and think “my mother taught me how to do this,” and I smile. So while I was baking that cake, I thought about all the things my mother taught me to do.

Then, there’s my own children and Mother’s Day. I remember three things in particular today. One – my son told me, and he was very young at the time – maybe 9 or 10 years old. He was at his dad’s for the weekend – as in another household completely. They were walking in the mall and he told me that he was going to buy me a card, but his dad wouldn’t borrow him another dollar to pay for it….

It was very touching.

Another instant in time – and I am not quite sure that it was Mother’s Day or Christmas – but it doesn’t matter. He brought an art project from school. It was a beautiful God’s eye weaving. I thought “that is really great” and was already thinking about where to hang it. At least until he said, “I think I’m going to give it to Rita for Mother’s Day (or Christmas).”

I had to turn around to hide the pain. But he was thinking about his new stepmother; and I totally understand that.

Finally, as I mixed that apple cake in a large glass bowl, I thought about the Mother’s Day they bought me a mixer. Claire told me how proud they were walking down the mall with that box in their hands. They had found their mom the perfect gift.

Of course, I bake a lot and the mixer is long gone, but the bowl and the memory have lasted for years.

I miss those days when we were always together; and I’m praying for my mom. And, I pray for my children. And if you were at church today, where I was at church today, you know that in my heart, it’s all okay ‘cause someone’s watching and collecting my tears (both joy and pain) in a bottle. And, I’m okay with that today and feeling blessed to be a firm thread in the tapestry of our life. (Okay, sometimes it’s a loose thread….) God bless all the mother’s out there today.