This year, in fact this week my mother turned 81 years young. Today I thought I would reflect on the sacrifice that mom’s make, at least as I reflect on my own mother.
Growing up in a large family of eight children is no easy task. Yet, it was the sacrifice of our mother that is extraordinary. There were so many times that her sacrifice meant that her children could be happy and healthy.
Amidst so many memories, one stands out in particular. I can recall the many hours that she would spend sorting laundry and standing at an ironing board while many of her children ran in and out of the home living carefree. The picture of that is forever burned in my memory as I reflect on the joy that my mother would sacrifice for my happiness.
Of course, there were stressful days and difficult times. What home would be complete without those memories as well. Yet, my mother seem to always triumph in her ability to care for our needs. Often, setting aside her own needs in the process of caring for ours.
Three things come to mind as I think about not only my own mother but the many times that moms sacrifice.
1. Picking up after us.
I’ve raised children and I’ve seen the many times that their mother, Cindi would walk behind them picking up as they dropped their clothes in a trail. My mother, with not only have to pick up after us but could’ve easily gotten lost in the midst of all the laundry that would pile up all around the house.
My mother grew up Dutch and she was always cleaning up after us. She would always keep the house clean and would constantly get after us about leaving dirty dishes or other debris in the wake of our busy little lives. You could imagine that each of us left our fair share for mother to clean up.
2. Teaching us those lessons in real time.
Each my siblings could tell you about the many lessons that we learned because of our mother. We learned to work hard and to be honest. Many time she had to be the judge to deliberate the many times that we accused one another of lying or have to break up a dispute like a boxing referee.
We learned not too pull the wool over our mother’s eyes. She was often on to us when we thought we could scheme or lie. She would call us into account and often use the threat that many of us have heard, "Wait ‘till your father gets home." I think most of us were more concerned about what our mother would do to us.
It was a different day when physical punishment was often the norm. I don’t believe our mother was ever abusive but there were those times when we needed correction. She would have us go to the willow tree to obtain the tool of correction. When she said sit down and be quiet we didn’t hesitate but obeyed.
3. I’ll take care of that.
Since she was a nurturer, many times we would come to her with our difficulties and problems whether it was the neighborhood bully or difficulties at school. On more than one occasion I would hear her say, "I’ll take care of that."
Hearing those words brought instant relief to the anxiety that we felt. I remember times when she would get on the school bus to issue a fair warning to the neighborhood bully. Of course that was when I was in third grade. It is a reminder of how protective mother can be.
Of course, there were those sick days but I felt I needed to take time off from school. I would wake up in the morning with a cough or fever and my mother would simply say, "I’ll take care of that."
So many times I needed things to be taken care of and I could always depend on my mother stepping in to take care of things that I didn’t know how to do.
All of us could assure tributes about her mothers in their care. She has often been a protector and would nurture, taking care of the needs that we have from skinned knees and bruised egos.
I am grateful that my mother is still living in that we have the opportunity to tell her often that we love her and appreciate her.
