I Have Seen!

Greetings,

Over the years I have come to realize that there are some things that I am good at and then there are some things that I am not good at.  I am not sure which one outweighs the other but I am sure that someone is keeping track of both of them.  One of the things that I am good at is sending greeting cards to people.  I have know idea which part of the brain that task is assigned to but I can tell you, whatever side it is, it isn't working.

I mention the card thing because today is Mother's Day.  This is the day that we honor those who have given us the gift of life.  Now, probably most of you, knowing me the way you do, are thinking that I should be God or Dad some of the credit for this thing called life.  Since God has Sundays and Dad's have a day in June let us just ponder for a moment this day set aside for our Moms!

I didn't send my Mom a card today.  I will call her later and wish her a happy Mother's Day.  I didn't buy a card for two reasons:  1) She will need to be where I live to get her gift and 2)  I like to write my own words and, in my own humble opinion, I can believe that I can come up with better words than Hallmark!  Having written all of that I want to tell you about my Mom!

Normally other people would probably tell you that their moms are just like any other mom.  I am not other people and my mom is not like any other normal mom, my mom is special.  I know that you are probably thinking that your mom is special as well.  And you would be right in thinking that.  However, my mom is special to me!  I have no doubt that if I met your mother I would thoroughly enjoy her company but she would not be special to me.  So, let me rephrase the statement I wrote earlier.  My mom is special because she is my mom.  That might seem like a childish statement and it probably is.  The reason that is is because I am her child!  Are you following me?

If not, then let me go on.  Of all the wonderful traits that my mother has, and there are many, the one that I think has inspired me the most is my mother's ability to overcome tragedy.  After 42 years of life I have realized how strong my mother really is.  Her ability to process tragedy in the life of our family and bring hope where hope can not be found, joy when all joy seems gone, and strength where weakness abounds, inspires me to be a stronger person.  I have seen her deal with the death of a grandchild in an incredibly strong manner.  I have seen the strength that she possesses.  I have seen the love that she shares with all of her children.  I have seen the model of a woman she has given to my sister and I have seen the model of a wife that she has shared with her sons.  I have seen!  I have seen my mother in so many different situations share her strength, composure, and faith strengthen us all.  I have seen!  I have seen my mother bandage her children's scrapes and I have seen her mend the broken hearts of her kids.  I have seen a mother who is dedicated to her children and their father.  I have seen a PTA mom, a sports fan mom (slide, baby, slide), a mom who has watched as her children were married and when their children were buried , and in both cases the love stayed the same, as it always has.  I have seen!

I am, partly, what I am today because of what I have seen in my mother.  I have seen her love and her compassion.  I have seen her discipline and, in looking back, I know she was right!  I have tried to be what I have seen!  But, mostly, I have cherished the memory of seeing her face after waking up from brain surgery.  Just before going under for my first brain surgery I gave my mother a book.  It was called "Hope For the Flowers".  Hope For the Flowers is a 1973 children's novel by Trina Paulus. It is an enduring fable about two caterpillars.  I gave her that book because I wanted her to know that Hope is what she has taught me. 

Today is Mother's Day and mine is special...I know that because of what I  have seen!

God Bless you Mommy!

Derek