Happy Mother’s Day 2024

Happy Heavenly Mother’s Day Momma (hugs).

I was talking with a friend from church about the ups and downs of family life. We talked about our joys and regrets and our Bishop’s statement in Sacrament Meeting about the Savior. He said that if we were to meet Jesus today, He would look into our eyes with perfect love and hug us and take away any pain, sorrow from the past, all our regrets and as they left, we would feel His perfect love. I thought about that and wondered how often we hold onto past hurts when we really could just let them go and replace them with the perfect charity or love of the Savior.

I reminded my friend that even when parents get it wrong (which we do with enough frequency to be truly regrettable,) that all can be healed by the Savior. Family life is messy as we all know, but when it comes down to it, the love we share as families is the most sustaining, eternal and affirming love there is, next to perfect Godly love.

I suggested going home and listing a few of the positive things from our growing up years. The normal days filled with things we don’t think much about like nutritious meals, shared scriptures and stories, clean clothes, a safe place to sleep. The toys and trips that made our lives interesting as children. The positive interactions with extended family.

A few years ago I was in art classes, thinking about the time and energy it takes to rear a family. I did a little math and came up with the following statistics ( please forgive me if you have seen this before). The following is an art installation I created that lists just a few of the things Moms (and Dads) do for their children.

175,200 HOURS

175,200 is the number of hours parents are on duty for the first 20 years of a child’s life. They are responsible for 21,900 meals and 52,000 pieces of clean clothing and accoutrements, plus 6,378.5 diapers. A parent will offer 51,100 prayers for a child, send them to 2,340 days of K-12 education and spend approximately $241,080.00 to rear each child. And this doesn’t include trips to the dentist, cheering at sports games, trips to the library, feeding their friends, late night trips to Walmart, Office Depot or Target for supplies for a presentation TOMORROW, rides to work, insurance, college or other training, waiting up for them to come home from dates, trying to do be a better parent, reading books, taking parenting classes, listening…

There are over half a million reasons to call home on Mother’s Day.

A Tribute to Mother

“Mother I love you so,” said the child.

“I love you more than I know.”

She laid her head on her mother’s arm

And the love between them kept them warm.”

by Margaret Florence Smith

Happy Mother’s Day to

Mother,

Grandmother,

Aunt,

Sister 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.

I love you.

Thank you. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for my Mom

and the wonderful women I have had in my life. I love you all.

Try writing a few things that are meaningful to you about your Mom and the good things that came into your life because of her. Print them off and look at them on off days. If you’d like, leave some in the comments, I’d love to hear about your own precious Mom.