Mothers Day

What does Mother's Day mean? To some women it is a day of breakfast in bed, flowers, and praises of appreciation from family. To others it is a day of self doubt and self measure, a day filled with memories of inadequacy. Some women spend the day mourning the lost opportunity of motherhood filled with bitterness at the day that reminds them of that blessing in life they have yet to encounter. So, how do I spend mothers day? I spent the day thinking of the women in my life that have "mothered" me. I do not think Mothers Day has to be about just remembering your mother or even about being a mother to appreciate the day. It can be a day filled with fond memories of those sweet women that have taken the time to uplift and care for you in your time of need. I love taking those few hours on mothers day to think of those women who have made a difference in my life and have taken the time to care and reminded me of the things that I can do to mother others. Here's a few special women from my life.

My grandma Z.-I cannot say enough about my grandma. It is a universal law that grandmas are loving and sweet but my grandma took her position as grandma to a new level. She not only loved me unconditionally but she taught me how to love others. She was forgiving and kind and was slow to anger. When I was about 6 years old, my grandma had this beautiful glass castle. It was shiny, sparkly, and FRAGILE. I decided that I just HAD to wash this castle in the kitchen sink. My grandma gently told me that I was not to wash the castle because it would fall into the sink and break. Once she left the kitchen I did what every 6 year old would do. I took the castle and proceeded to wash it in the sink. And, I did just what my grandma had predicted. I dropped the castle and broke it. I just started crying because I was so upset with myself and I was scared of getting a spanking. My grandma came into the kitchen and when I told her what I had done, she just hugged me and NEVER said, "I told you so." She knew I was sorry and she had the love and patience to know what I needed to hear. I am sure she was angry but she loved me enough as a prideful 6 year old to know what to do. She had such love and patience with me that when I was a prideful, arrogant 17 year old and I came to her with the most devastating news that a teenager can bring to her family, she just held me in her arms and told me it would be ok. I knew she was disappointed and she knew that she did not need to tell me that, she knew that she needed to just let me know that I was loved.

My friend Kristen-I would not be where I am right now without Kristen. I heard a story in church a few months ago and it reminded me of my story with Kristen. It was about two spirits who were best friends up in heaven. They loved each other very much and were VERY excited when they received their mortal assignments to find that they were both coming to earth around the same time and would be in the same town! Suddenly one of the spirits got very silent and sad and the other said, "What's wrong? This is so exciting. Not only will we receive bodies at the same time, we will be in the same town" and the other sadly replied, "My assignment says that I will not be born into a family with the gospel" The other spirit came and placed her arms around the other and said, "Don't worry, I will find you and bring the gospel to you". I have no doubt that Kristen was placed in my life to bring to me the gospel that has changed my whole life and the life of my family. When Kristen's daughter was diagnosed with cancer, I got off the phone and just cried because I love Kristen like a sister. I immediately prayed for her and for her family. When I was done, I realized that while it was horrible that her family was going through this trial, I knew from the way she mothered me that her daughter had the best of the best.

My mother-My mother has mothered me my whole life. That is the what mothers do right? Anyone can be a mother. I won't go into the anatomy of it but being a mother usually requires a woman and a man. That is all you need-woman+man=child?? My mom has taught me more than just being a mom. She has taught me about laughter and finding happiness. Some of the best times of my life have been spent laughing with my mom. She truly has this gift for making people laugh when she wants to. To say that I have not disappointed my mom would be an outright lie. As children we will make mistakes that disappoint our parents but the true test of a mother is that despite the disappointment, the love NEVER stops. Being a good mother does not mean that you are perfect. Even the best mothers make mistakes. The measure of a good mother is how she handles the rough times and the unconditional life she gives her children and teaching them to laugh. Because when life is rough, if you can't laugh, what can you do?

These are just a few of the special women in my life. I wish I could list them all but I would be on blogger all day. Today on mothers day I am not just thankful that I have two children that I can call my own but rather that I have been blessed in my life to have been cared for by many mothers that have taught me beautiful lessons in life that I will pass to my children.