Every spring, we pause for a minute to give tribute to our mothers. I did the math one time to try to imagine how many meals are fed to a growing child, how many pieces of clothing are purchased or made, worn, washed, folded, put away, worn, washed, folded, put away, worn, washed, folded, put away… how many prayers are uttered, toys picked up, prom dresses made, holidays celebrated, games and concerts attended and so forth. The numbers are staggering and almost every mother you ask, says motherhood was the best and hardest thing she has ever done.
This year we are sheltering my aged mother as she lives through the final seasons of her life on earth. Living with a person with dementia can be frustrating and some of the moments and days are crazy-making but so far we are all mostly intact. I owe her.
So happy Mother’s Day to all of the women who make the world a better place. Here is a poem I composed as a thank you and a tribute to the invisible work of being a mother. To honor those long nights during teething, the tears known only to God and the triumphs and joys as well as the sorrows and regrets. As I tell my family, you do what you can and Jesus’ atonement takes care of the rest. Happy Mother’s Day Mom.
A TRIBUTE TO WOMEN
By Pamela Layton McMurtry
To Mother,
Grandmother,
Aunt,
Sister, friend and
precious women
Who give life,
nurture
and give joy.
Who bled
and fed
and hid Easter eggs,
and wrapped gifts
and dyed Halloween costumes.
Who took me to the zoo
and Disneyland,
and grew pumpkins,
and taught me to play chess
and feed my babies.
Who taught me to write thank you notes
And have good manners
and remember birthdays
and ancestors
(and love them).
And gave me crayons
and dolls
and retainers
and fishnet nylons
and a radio to take to the beach.
Who took me to visit my grandparents
and on road trips
and swimming
and had a barbecue.
Who taught me to pray
and love
and find joy
and set a beautiful table.
And to watch out for little ones,
and spell correctly,
and feed stray kittens,
and read books.
And to try,
and fail,
and try again.
Who found our great grandfathers were kings
and great grandmothers were queens.
Who took pictures,
and listened as I learned to read,
and filled a piñata.
And eat Thanksgiving at the beach like Pilgrims,
and go on bike rides,
and read Luke on Christmas Eve,
and sing carols,
and find treats in my stocking.
To share with those in need,
and love art and beauty,
and wear bows in my hair
and shoes that fit,
and remember God and go to church.
Who sewed clothes,
and prayed for soldiers,
and firemen,
and missionaries,
and me.
Who baked cakes
and arranged flowers,
and made 20,000 meals,
and made me brush my teeth.
And bought sugar sticks,
and made drawings,
and bread,
and Beef Stroganoff.
And soothed wounded hearts,
and took us to movies,
and to the woods,
and the sea.
And played
and prayed
and gave time
and love
and life.
Thank you.
Thank you to Blog Feedspot for including McMurtry Creative Media in their top Christmas blogs! http://blog.feedspot.com/top-20-christmas-blogs-to-read/
