Monday, July 24, 2017

Mother's Day

It was Mother's Day almost two months ago, and I've been meaning to "find time" to write this blog. To express my gratitude to both my mother and my mother-in-law. They both taught me so many things over the years. Things about being a mom, a mother-in-law, a wife, a daughter, a sister, a neighbor, and a grandmother. About the importance of time, grace, relationships, beauty, hard work, and gratitude. What I learned? We all only get a certain amount of time. Spend it with families! Rob and I lived in the same community as our folks for four years, but then we lived at least 6 hours apart from them. And both mothers were at my house frequently, when my children were born and after. They washed the bathrooms, cooked for the family, read books to the children, taught them Jesus. They were there at birthday's, Thanksgiving's, Christmas's, at the beach, grandparent's day, and dedications. Have family reunions frequently- especially now that everyone lives so far apart and weekly Sunday dinners are not in anyone's future. Go to Norway, if your family is having a world-wide reunion!! Keep the stories going! Ethan, stand out on the camp deck and tell the family stories from your perspective....you're a very good storyteller! Unless we hear our family history, our children and grandchildren will not learn about their family lore. About grace and elegance. My mother had a nature elegance, even when she was hanging clothes on the line. She was from the era of house dresses. And she and my father danced. I never saw her in pants until we were older. After cleaning and cooking during the day I remember her changing into another dress and putting on lipstick for when my dad got home from the bank. Later I remember her in beautiful ball gowns going to bank functions in NYC. She made glamour look easy. I know now it isn't. My mother-in-law, Alma, was tall. She always looked beautiful in whatever she wore, even if it came from a bargain department store! She was always proud of her legs, even though being tall in her generation was not a thing to be envied. About hard work and patience. Both of our mother's worked hard at home and in the community. They both taught Sunday School for 30 years. Developing relationships with 4 and 5 year old's, that lasted a life time. For years I remember Alma's dining room table filled with bags for the girls in the prison near to where they lived. She would shop for items one would appreciate if spending Christmas in prison. For years my mom, with other community women would exercise a young boys limbs who was born with a spastic condition. They didn't see being a stay at home mom as not fulfilling. My mother made a budget, stuck to it, maintained the family checkbook for years, until my father retired. Alma grew magnificent flowers in her garden, bringing a florist worthy vase each week for the front of the pulpit. Alma taught me not to "camp out" in a pity party, her words. But they stuck. And I could see through her life that she never hung out there either! Both women went forward. And they were content. In the joys and tragedies that all families face. They showed me what I heard Daisy Obsborne, missionary to India, say years ago. "Surround yourself with beauty. God does!" It doesn't need to be expensive but beauty enhances life....our homes, places of work, outside and in. They made their homes beautiful with simplicity, design and a few nice inherited pieces of furniture. And they were so grateful for what they had; our visits, vacations, faithful friends, grandchildren, food, homes, our country. I hope I told them these things over the years, while they were still alive. Because they both showed me, with their lives, how to do think thing called womanhood in family, neighborhood, community, and church.