“But there's a story behind everything. How a picture got on a wall. How a scar got on your face. Sometimes the stories are simple, and sometimes they are hard and heartbreaking. But behind all your stories is always your mother's story, because hers is where yours begin.”
my mom’s name is glenda. it means “pure and good.” those are both accurate descriptions of her, along with millions of other words like loving, caring, intelligent, hard working, beautiful, joyful, hilarious, tenacious, strong, brave, kind…i could go on for hours. i’m serious.
from her story and her love and who she is, i have my story. i am most unquestionably my mothers daughter. i learned from her what it means to be a woman of character and virtue and love.
i can’t imagine anyone in this world knows me better than my mother. she made me from scratch. she’s the only person i’ve ever been physically a part of. she taught me to walk and say “please” and “thank you” and dance around the house to love shack by the b-52s. she celebrated with me in new discoveries and cried with me every time i learned that life can be really hard.
she taught me how to bake really, really good pies and how to laugh at myself and how to drive a car. she put up with me in my fragile teenage years, God bless her for that. from her i get my sense of humor, my grace for others, my need to know details right now. even as an adult, when it comes time to make life decisions i wonder, will my mom approve?
she’s my closest confidant and biggest cheerleader. i think this woman actually believes i can do anything. like if i said “hey mom, i’m gonna join a circus. and tap dance on an elephant. on the moon.” her only questions would involve how we’re gonna make that happen.
she’s shown me the heart of God and what it means to be His child. she loves me the way He does. she pours blessings upon blessings on me. she gives me unmerited favor. she corrects my course gently. she believes in me absolutely. she loves me unconditionally. all of this for the simple reason that i am her daughter and she is my mother.
somewhere along the line we went from being mother and daughter to being best friends as well. i stop by her house to drop something off real quick and leave 8 hours later, full to the brim of good food and conversation. we can talk for hours, no topic off limits, no issue too petty, no problem too large.
i honestly can’t picture life without this woman. my best friend, greatest teacher, biggest cheerleader, funniest companion, shoulder to cry on, and who i aspire to be like when i grow up. my mama.
love you so much mom. happy mother’s day.
