Last Words

We celebrated Mother's Day earlier this week. In recent years, Mother's Day has been a mixed bag for me. I miss my own mother. I rarely get to spend time with my own sons on Mother's Day, one of the consequences of living so far from each other. Mother's Day has become a time for me to travel down memory lane, which results in lots of smiles and some tears as well.

One memory that always surfaces at this time of year is hearing the doctor say that we would never be able to have children. I remember the Mother's Days when I so wanted to be a mom and it seemed that would never happen. That's a painful memory, but one that is more than balanced by the fact that obviously the doctor was wrong and God had another plan. Two plans! Two sons! The joy I felt when that same doctor told me the pregnancy test was positive has never diminished!

Motherhood is not an easy job. And I haven't always been a candidate for "world's best mother".  I've made my share of mistakes. Perhaps more than my share. Bad decisions. Lost my temper. Said things I have regretted. But through it all, I have loved being a mother. I love my sons. And the daughters they brought into my life. And the grandsons who now bring us all so much joy!

As I travel down memory lane at this time of year, there are so many things that make me smile.  Sometimes even giggle a little bit.

I smile when I think of hearing I love you, Mom, no matter what day of the year it is.

I giggle when I remember the poor hamster named Roscoe who met an untimely end when Brian jumped off the top bunk and landed on him.

I remember the big bows my mother always put in my blonde curls. And there were the sweet smiles and hugs of my own little blonde boys (who aren't so blonde anymore!!).

I remember Baby Dedication services for our sons and our grandsons. Violin lessons and soccer games. Long distance calls from England when Brian was stationed there during his Air Force years.

And I remember the last words my own mother spoke to me. We knew her time was short. We left Minnesota, flying down to SC, hoping we would get there in time. We arrived on Saturday around midnight. She left us on Monday morning. But on that Saturday night when we got there, she opened her eyes, smiled a faint smile and said the last words I ever heard her say.

"I love you."

Those words are a treasured memory. And a reminder. We should never miss an opportunity to speak those words to those we love. Because we never know if we will have another opportunity.


"Love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." 
(John 13:34 ESV) \