Saturday, May 10, 2008

Something my sister sent

KEEPERS

I grew up with practical grandparents who had been frightened by the Great Depression in the 1930's. A mother, God love her, who washed aluminum foil after she cooked in it, then reused it. She was the original recycle queen, before they had a Name for it... A father who was happier getting old shoes fixed than buying new ones.
Their marriage was good, their dreams focused. Their best friends lived barely a wave away. I can see them now, Dad in trousers, tee shirt and a hat and Mom in a house dress, lawn mower in one hand, and dish-towel in the other. It was the time for fixing things ; a curtain rod, the kitchen radio, screen door, the oven door, the hem in a dress. Things we keep.

It was a way of life, and sometimes it made me crazy. All that repairing, eating, reusing, I wanted just once to be wasteful. Waste meant affluence. Throwing things away meant you knew there'd always be more.

But then my mother died, and on that clear summer's night, in the warmth of the hospital room, I was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn't any more.

Sometimes, what we care about most gets all used up and goes away...never to return. So... While we have it... it's best we love it... And care for it... And fix it when it's broken..... And heal it when it's sick.

This is true... For marriage.... And old cars.... And children with bad report cards..... And dogs and cats with bad hips.... And aging parents.... And grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it. Some things we keep. Like a best friend that moved away or a classmate we grew up with.

There are just some things that make life important, like people we know who are special.... And so, we keep them close!
 
When I think about my mom and the things she did to drive me crazy when I was young, sometimes I feel a little guilty for speaking against her or telling my friends how old-fashioned she was.  I didn't know that one day I would be old-fashioned too.  Mom was my champion.  She stood up for me long past the time when a "normal" person should have stood down.  In the worst of my rebellion, when everyone I knew walked away from me, Mom was my rock.  Mom stood on the rock of salvation for me.  She pleaded with the Lord for me.  She was so happy when I returned to my first Love:  Jesus Christ.  I know that as she rests in the loving arms of my Father, she has joy now.  She knows we have all returned.  Her prayers continued like sweet perfume unto the Father's ears . . . even now awaiting the return of her grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. My mom had as many faults as most of us do however, she always looked to the Lord for solace, forgiveness, peace of mind and joy.  This is why I am sharing with you what my sister sent to me.  We only have one shot at life.  We really do need to hang on to our relationships, get things finished, keep our lives in working order. 
 
Celebrate Mother's Day tomorrow with great joy and thanksgiving if you will.  Remember the moms who have passed on and their children who are ever changed by the loss.  Hang on to your kids as our mom did to hers.  She was a wonderful mom and I miss her.
 
Heather and Krissy, I am so proud to have you as my daughter and daughter-in-law. You are both good moms and good wives. Happy Mother's Day, girls.
I love you,
Mom

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very sweet, and very true--thanks for sharing :)  Happy Mother's Day!  :)  Julie

Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading this. Happy Mother's Day to you Penny!
Pam xoxox

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day!
You are a great Mom yourself.
Hugs,
Dee

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day, Penny!  I'm glad you are in Ventura.  You are a wonderful mom yourself.  You learned from your mother.  LOL..my mother was one of those strict old-fashioned mom's also.  Blessing!  HUGS Chris

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day, honey!!  Love, Val xox

Anonymous said...

Happy Mother's Day!

Krissy :)
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

Anonymous said...

You a pretty special too, Penny!  Thanks for sharing this.  -  Barbara

Anonymous said...

Penny, I'm a little late for Mother's Day, but that was beautiful!  Thank you for that tribute to your mom.  I'm blessed to have mine still with me although she is 2000 miles away, but God Blessed me with a wonderful mother in law who lives next door to me, and she is just as much my mother!  God has blessed me with many mothers in my life- the mom who gave birth to me, who gave me up for a better life- the mom who adopted me and gave me a good life, my best friend's mom who helped me through hard times in my life, my ex mother in law who reintroduced Jesus into my life, and my mother in law now who never intrudes on my life unless she is needed- which is often!  May God bless them all- and you this mother's day and every day.  Thank you Penny~ love Carolyn

Anonymous said...

lovely sentiments         came to your journal from  nurse pams journal         saw your comment and popped in           i care for my  87 yr old mom            better  speak  in  american english  lol          here  in the UK       so  it is a special day   mothers day,although ours  was  weeks ago over here         take care  mort x