This Mother's Day is a tough one for me. I can't buy a gift for my mom. I can buy flowers, but she'll never see them. She can't read a card or a poem I write for her. So, I decided the best way I can honor my mother this year is by sharing the lessons I have learned through her example and words of wisdom, and if any of my fellow bloggers decided to follow suit, I'll post links on my sidebar. After all, isn't a mother's greatest job that of teacher? And so, without any further ado, I give you day one of 25 lessons learned from Mom.* * * * *
Lesson #1: "You can do anything if you want it bad enough."
Mom believed in me. From the first I can remember she always encouraged me to try new things, to spread my wings and see what I was capable of. When I said, "I can't", she always said, "Yes you can. I have confidence in you." That was a lesson learned from her grandmother. Grandma Rainy wrote that she always tried to make her children see she had confidence in them, that it was the greatest gift she could give them.
When I told Mom I wanted to write a book, she said "great! I bet you'll be good at it. You're so gifted with words." When I told her I wanted to build a den, she said, "wow, that's an ambitious project, but you're so capable I know it will turn out beautiful." When I told her I wanted to adopt the children we were fostering, despite their challenges, she said, "You'll make a wonderful Mom. I know you can do this." Whenever I dealt with any kind of challenge, whether it was facing a friend I had hurt or trying to accomplish an overwhelming task, she was there cheering me on.
When Mom took her last breath, my first selfish thought was, she's never going to see me published. Immediately after a wave of peace flowed through me and I realized something: she didn't have to. She knew, with absolute certainty, that my time was coming. In her eyes I was already there. She gave me the confidence to spread my wings and try and it is a lesson I want to pass on to my own children.
Mom believed in me. From the first I can remember she always encouraged me to try new things, to spread my wings and see what I was capable of. When I said, "I can't", she always said, "Yes you can. I have confidence in you." That was a lesson learned from her grandmother. Grandma Rainy wrote that she always tried to make her children see she had confidence in them, that it was the greatest gift she could give them.
When I told Mom I wanted to write a book, she said "great! I bet you'll be good at it. You're so gifted with words." When I told her I wanted to build a den, she said, "wow, that's an ambitious project, but you're so capable I know it will turn out beautiful." When I told her I wanted to adopt the children we were fostering, despite their challenges, she said, "You'll make a wonderful Mom. I know you can do this." Whenever I dealt with any kind of challenge, whether it was facing a friend I had hurt or trying to accomplish an overwhelming task, she was there cheering me on.
When Mom took her last breath, my first selfish thought was, she's never going to see me published. Immediately after a wave of peace flowed through me and I realized something: she didn't have to. She knew, with absolute certainty, that my time was coming. In her eyes I was already there. She gave me the confidence to spread my wings and try and it is a lesson I want to pass on to my own children.
"You can do anything if you want to do it bad enough. I have confidence in you."
6 comments:
Awesome Karen! I'm halfway thru the Sapphire Flute and I'm LOVING it! Your mom didn't have confidence in you just because you were her daughter, it's because you're really and truly SO gifted! Haven't you made furniture, too? You can be anything when you grow up! LOL
Happy Mother's Day from one Mama's Girl to another.
Tricia, you made my day today. Thank you so very, very much. I'm so glad you're liking the book, and yes, I've made furniture. lol It never fails that when someone asks me how I learned how to do something my answer is "I read a book." Thank heavens for a mother who knew the only thing holding me back from life was myself and encouraged me to try.
Happy Mother's Day right back at you, Mama's girl. *hugs*
Wow! This put me in tears! What a wonderful tribute to your mom! I loved this. I wish you lots of luck. Jenni
Karen,
I love love love this post and I am going to write mine later today.
I will tell you the lessons my awesome mom has taught me.
THANKS
Donna
Okay my lesson is up on my blog now too. Thanks again, Karen this is a wonderful thing.
You're mom would be touched by your tribute. I understand what you're going through. I lost my mom four years ago. I know you're mom is proud of you.
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