I think I spent most of my life expecting the wrong things out of a mother. (mom I know you don’t like being called mother but I sound more intelligent if I say the word mother in that sentence ha)
Ok but really, I thought a mom should be someone who taught me how to do my make-up perfectly.
I thought a mom should be someone who asked me who I had a crush on.
I thought a mom was someone who talked to me about the drama-filled life of a teenager.
I thought a mom was someone who let me do what I wanted when I wanted to.
I thought a mom should be my best friend and my disciplinarian.
After spending all my life with the wrong expectations, I missed out on seeing how much my mom was … THE MOM (like ‘the man’ but THE MOM…boom)
I don’t know when it hit me, but all of a sudden I was able to reflect on all the AMAZING ways my mom was the best representation of a mother that I could ask for.
Maybe it was the time that I found out her love language was acts of service.
Maybe it was the time that I decided to go on an 11 month journey with the Lord that would knock out every once of pride I carried in my life.
Maybe it was the moment my mind switched from adolescent to (semi) adulthood.
Either way, now I look back and see how my mom has been, loving me through numerous acts of service over and over again. And never acts of service for recognition. I have never in my whole life met a more self-less person.
I have realized that… a mom is someone who lets your child know that you believe in them.
A mom is someone who points you on to the right path even if you may not understand right away.
A mom is attempting to make it to every sporting event you have ever had.
A mom is pushing you to do good in school because they want the best future for you.
A mom is going to parent teacher conferences and taking notes.
A mom is staying up until 4am reading Where The Red Fern Grows to you because you were 8 chapters behind.
A mom is someone who asks how your day was, EVERYDAY in high school, even if the response is always the same…”Fine.”
A mom is not giving you money every time you ask so you can grow up with a sense of responsibility.
A mom is someone who stays up all night to finish your quilt for your dorm room before your leaving for college.
A mom is someone who still teaches you how to drive after nearly killing her on a turn.
A mom is taking pictures of you on the first day of school every year so you can look back on them later and remember.
A mom is giving you chores and expecting you to do them, so you can learn how important work ethic is.
A mom is someone who does not let her daughter go to someone’s house without knowing the parents, because she knows what the world is capable of.
A mom is pouring vinegar on your sunburn after a 3 day long soccer tournament.
A mom is someone who punishes you for mouthing off so you learn how important respect and authority is.
A mom is someone who never lets her children see their father and her fight. (or maybe she just never fights with him, either was we never saw it)
A mom is putting notes in every pocket of your bags when you travel or go college.
A mom is someone who holds her husbands hand in the car so you can see what love should still be like after 25+ years of marriage.
A mom is telling you that you can’t be alone with a boy at 15 years old because she wants the best for you.
A mom is someone who has her Bible by her night stand.
A mom is someone who can get that overdraft charge off no matter what the bank says… and she does do it! EVERY TIME! haha
A mom is crawling in bed with you.
A mom is someone who charges you gas money for every mile she drives you when you start taking advantage of her, so you can learn how to appreciate people.
A mom is someone who never talks bad about anyone around her.
A mom is making you walk laps around the house when you back-talk, one, to teach you there are consequences to your actions and two, to give you some daily cardio.
A mom is someone who lets you give her advice on dressing and even lets you pick out jeans to try on she doesn’t want to.
A mom is someone who waits for every child to get home from college to decorate the Christmas tree.
A mom is someone who still hides Easter Eggs around the yard, they may be modified from candy to money but never-the-less.
A mom is someone who sends Easter Eggs to her roommate in college to hide for me on Easter.
A mom is someone who lets you think you found true love even when she think differently, but allow you find your own path and trusts God to reveal it to you.
A mom is someone who fills your gas tank up every time you go somewhere when you get home from college because she knows you need it and would not ask.
A mom is crying when you leave even if it’s for a week.
A mom is someone who always tells you how beautiful you are.
A mom is leading girl scouts for 6 years to be a part of your life.
A mom is being the joy and hope into every situation.
A mom is someone who never stops. Someone, who after a heart attack and people start telling her ‘she can’t’ pushes through and ‘she did’. Someone who shows you that with God you can do anything.
A mom is someone who trusts the Lord so much to let her only daughter leave for a year and stand behind her every step of the way, organizing finances, sending out newsletters, checking every blog she writes, being her prayer warrior, sending her family updates, and sending her e-mails just to let her know she is loved and not forgotten.
THAT is my mom. Not all mothers look the same but I am proud for how my mom looks and without her… I would not be who I am today.
So, mama, even though I am not there with you now, I want to formally say Thank You for being the that mom for me. And on top of that, for Josh and Jonathan, and on top of that… loving every one of our friends that walked through our front door. (ok, let’s be honest no one but the mail man uses the front door, soooooo garage door)
I feel so blessed to have been raised by Mother Teresa. Happy Mother’s Day!
