Happy Mother's Day!

I decided a few weeks ago that I wasn't going to focus on the fact that another Mother's Day had passed without me becoming a mom. No, this year I was going to focus on the fact that I have a wonderful mother in my life who has spent her whole life raising me as best she knew how. Mom made so many sacrifices for my brother and me growing up. She left my dad when I was three and moved us to Texas and raised us on her own. I don't remember those days much, but over the years she would talk about them here and there, and I know they were tough for Mom. She eventually married my step-dad, Henry, who despite the fact that he already had a grown child, took us and raised us as his own. She may not have picked the right man to marry the first time, but she picked a gem the second time. Mom had us at the church every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night. She directed the children's choir, helped with the youth choir, and filled in as the pianist when she was needed. Mom taught me the importance of hard work. She does nothing half way. When I was in college Mom taught elementary music all day, and taught piano lessons three nights a week just so I could have spending money. On top of all that she was in charge of all the children's choirs at church, played in a handbell choir, and sang in the adult choir. And then when Henry died, Mom showed me what true strength really was. Sure, she cried, and there were moments when she didn't want to go on, but in the end she persevered through the grief, and through it all she remained faithful to God, her church, her family, and her work. Mom found love again, and married Charley. In the beginning I was very hesistant of their relationship. I liked Charley a lot, but they had only known each other for a few months when they decided to marry. I gave Mom a hard time about it, but in the end it was the perfect decision. (I don't know if I ever told her I was sorry or not, but I'm hoping I did.) Mom retired from teaching, but she couldn't just sit around the house. No, she found herself another job at the church as the children's choir coordinator and secretary for the music minister. And true to her form she works hard to do the best job she can. She goes in an hour earlier than she's supposed to, and works late if the job isn't finished. And when the decision had to be made for my grandmother to be put in an assisted living center Mom went up to see her every morning on her way to work, and many times on her way home as well.

It's hard to pin-point just one thing that Mom has taught me over the years because there are so many...

• Go to church. You should be thanking God for the blessings that each new day brings. You may not like the circumstances you're in, but just wait. God will bring you through them, and you'll be so much stronger and so much wiser for persevering and remaining faithful to Him.
• Family is everything. You never abandon your family no matter how frustrated you get. You love them even if you have moments when you don't like them. Family is going to be there for you through the good and the bad. Do the same for them.
• Work hard. Even if you don't like the job, or even if you're not the best at it, do everything to the best of your ability.
• Be generous. Not just with your money, but with your time and talents, too. Not everyone is as privileged as you. Give them the shirt off your back if you have to. You have another one at home.
• Love others. It's not always easy to love others, but you have to try to love them. A lot of times people put up a front because they're hurting. Get to know them and love them for who they are inside. Not the person they are on the outside. Everyone deserves to be loved.
• Forgive. When people hurt you it's easy to hold a grudge, talk bad about them, and ignore them. It's harder to forgive them and work to mend the relationship, but there will come a time when you yourself need to be forgiven. Friendships grow and deepen not just through the easy times, but because you've made it through the hard times.
• Ask for forgiveness. Admit when you've wronged someone, and go ask them for forgiveness. They may not extend it to you, but at least you will know you've asked and you've tried to right the wrong. Be nice to them and love them even if they're still mad at you because even if they can't forgive you now, they will probably come to a point when they're able to.

Okay, so obviously some of those I'm still working on. I just hope that one day I'll be able to pass all these wonderful words of wisdom on to my children. Mom wasn't perfect, but she loved hard, she worked hard, and gave 100% of herself to everything she did. I love you Mom...Happy Mother's Day!!!