A Mother’s Love

nothing can compare…

“No one in your life will ever love you as your mother does. There is no love as pure, unconditional and strong as a mother’s love.” - Hope Edelman

Over the years, my mother enjoyed telling me the story of my birth. My siblings were all born in the 1950s and, at that time, the drug, Ether, was used on mothers during labor, so my mother was not able to be fully awake during the birth process. 

By the time I came around in 1968, epidurals were starting to be used and thanks to that advance in medicine, my mother was able to see me right away, and she remembered every moment.

She would fondly recall how the doctor handed me over to her and we had an immediate bond. I snuggled my little head into her shoulder and I never really left it.

I had a similar experience with my own son when he was born. The moment of his birth was truly miraculous. I can still remember the doctor announcing, “It’s a boy,” and our newborn son filled the room with his piercing cry. He was immediately checked out and proclaimed healthy by the medical staff. After my own issues with chronic illness, it was a tremendous relief.

As my husband handed Michael over to me, I said, “Hey, Michael, what are you crying about?”

He stopped crying, turned his head and looked straight into my eyes. For that brief moment, I felt a divine presence. I felt closer to God than at any other time in my life. A wonderful feeling of peace surrounded me and I was without pain.

I didn’t realize how much you could love another person until I became a mother myself. Our son Michael has grown into a wonderful, unique, kind-hearted young man and many people have given me credit for his success by saying that I am a great parent. My response to that is that I learned how to be a great mother by having one myself.

I have been blessed to have many wonderful pictures taken over the years that I can look back at and remember my mother and all of the love and support she shared with me. One of my favorites was taken on a beach on the south shores of Lake Superior. It is just the two of us and we are huddled together. She is sheltering me from what appears to be a cold, windy day. I was probably around three years old.

The picture reflects more than just one moment in time, captured on film. It depicts one of the most important jobs on earth - motherhood. Mothers protect, love and support their children, sometimes through difficult times. They are also there to help celebrate the hopefully, many, more wonderful and beautiful moments throughout life.

This year is my first Mother’s day without my mother here on earth. I am a true believer of guardian angels and if there was anyone who ever lived a life more loving or kind…you could not find a more fitting example than her. I believe she is with me, just in a different way.

Happy Mother’s Day Mom…I miss our hugs. I miss talking with you. I miss… you…

This week’s Smile Video

A boy was never supposed to know his birth mother, but his adoptive parents had other plans. When he recently had his own son, he found a way to honor her. Steve Hartman shares more in "On the Road." 

#believe #stevehartman #smilevideos

What I am reading…

This week I read one of my mother’s favorite poets,  Helen Steiner Rice. She wrote many books throughout her life, filled with inspirational, religious poems. My Mom found her writing uplifting and you could usually find one of Rice’s books within reach of my mother’s favorite reading spots in her apartment.

I read Rice’s anthology A Book of Courage this past week. Rice lived from 1900-1981 and her life was far from easy. Two words that come to mind when you read about her life and her poetry are simply - endurance and faith.

Maybe that’s what my mother found so appealing about Rice’s poetry. It’s hard to explain but when I read books that my mother read, especially if they are uplifting, I can almost feel how she felt when she read them.

Here is an example:

“When someone does a kindness

It always seems to me

That’s the way God up in heaven

Would like us all to be…”

If you’re looking for some beautiful inspiration, I encourage you to check out a book of Helen Steiner Rice’s poetry. You will be glad you did.

StoryCorps Animated Shorts - Listening to Moms

Mother figures are the unsung heroes in our lives who provide us with guidance, support, and unconditional love. Whether it’s a grandparent, an aunt, a stepparent, or a mentor, these individuals have shaped us into the people we are today. In our “Listening to Moms” animation season, we hear stories that honor these individuals and reflect on maternal figures and what they mean to us. Watch a season dedicated to celebrate and recognize the remarkable contributions of all the mother figures who have played a vital role in our lives and to express our gratitude for their unwavering support and love.

Click here to see these wonderful stories!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

This month I would like to share information regarding mental health awareness.

Firefighter Peter Kirwan explains how he overcame his fear of seeking help for mental illness and his journey to recovery. Illustrated by Matthew Johnstone, this award winning clip was developed by the Black Dog Institute for NSW Fire and Rescue.

This week’s TED Talk - A new way to think about the transition to motherhood

I have watched TED Talks for many years now. I love the wide variety of experiences and opinions TED Talks offer. Here is one I would like to share for this week:

When a baby is born, so is a mother -- but the natural (and sometimes unsteady) process of transition to motherhood is often silenced by shame or misdiagnosed as postpartum depression. In this quick, informative talk, reproductive psychiatrist Alexandra Sacks breaks down the emotional tug-of-war of becoming a new mother -- and shares a term that could help describe it: matrescence.

Celebrating Women’s Empowerment

I discovered the work of Global Ministries through my job at Grace United Church of Christ. Global Ministries is a common missional witness of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Global Ministries works with approximately 250 faith-based international partners in close to 90 countries.

Their mission is to receive and share the Good News of Jesus Christ by joining with global and local partners to work for justice, reconciliation, and peace.

Please click on the following link to Celebrate the mothers in your life and support women's empowerment around the world.

Reflections of the past…

As we go into this weekend, I love to look back at the special bond between our son and my mother. This picture came up in my Facebook memories. I hope all my readers are able to reflect on their own wonderful memories and hopefully you can make some new ones this weekend too!

Children’s Corner - Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes

I love children’s author and illustrator, Kevin Henkes. Here is one of my favorite stories he has written, Julius, the Baby of the World.

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester’s Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting — if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world. Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful — until she claims him for her own. “Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child’s fragile self-esteem….Lilly is a superb and timely heroine.” —Publishers Weekly

Quote of the week

Until next week. Please remember…Begin and end each day with a grateful heart…and always, always be kind….