It’s 10:03pm on May 11, 2013…the night before Mother’s Day.
I sit here in my room, nearly paralyzed with panic as I
realize that I still haven’t managed to put any of my fabulous Mother’s Day
gift ideas together and now I won’t have anything to wrap in pretty paper for
you tomorrow. I really did have some great ideas. Unfortunately all of my ideas
involved creative, crafty projects which never even made it out of their
conceptual stages. Perhaps someday they will. I hope so, because I think you’d
like them.
But for now, I’ve decided to refuse to let my gift failure sabotage
this opportunity to let you know you are loved by your daughter. Truly, truly
loved. Oh, how I wish I could find the words to do justice to what is in my
heart. I’m afraid they simply don’t exist in the English language. Here’s the
best that I can do:
Among all the blessings that the Lord has given to me, I’m
not sure there is anything greater than the privilege of being your daughter. The
roles you have played in my life continue to grow and multiply. Life-giver.
Nurturer. Teacher. Disciplinarian. Mentor. Role-model. Listening ear. Shoulder
for crying. Cheerleader. Intercessor. Counselor. Encourager. Partner. Friend.
Now as I raise 3 daughters of my own, I don’t know what I would
do without you and your ever-present and ever-available help. No, actually, I’m
pretty sure I do know what I’d do. I think I’d just fall apart. You continue to
give of yourself tirelessly and unselfishly. You raised your own 5 kids,
homeschooling us all and surviving every challenge we tossed at you. I remember
all too well my own junior high years. I didn’t make it easy for you. But you
continue to pour yourself out and have thrown yourself into helping me climb
this mountain of raising 3 more girls. Oh, to be half the woman you are. As I
see you daily giving of yourself, I am reminded that with the Lord’s help, I
too can continue this race.
So thank you. Thank you for being the woman I aspire to be.
Thank you for being flawed and human and for being willing to let me see that
so I can also see you letting the Lord be your strength in weakness. Thank you
for loving me. For loving my daughters. And for giving so many things up for
us. And for showing all of us the highest standard of what a mother can be. You are my hero.
Happy Mother's Day!
P.S. I really wanted to include a great picture of just the
two of us in this post, but can’t remember the last time we took one like that.
Let’s do that again soon.
