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May you be strengthened with all power,
according to his glorious might, for all endurance
and patience with joy, giving thanks
to the Father, who has qualified you to
share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from
the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in
whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians
1:9-14
Dear
Mom,
Well
here we are again at another Mother’s Day. The annual day that guilty children
get to try to make up for a year of neglect and mistreatment toward their
hardworking, longsuffering mothers.
As
I remember it, you always used to say, “Don’t
make a big deal about me on Mother’s Day. That’s for those who don’t have a
good relationship with their mom and feel guilty.…Be good to me all year round
and then you don’t have to grovel on Mother’s Day!”
Still,
how can we help but get sentimental…what with all the seasonal TV commercials
reminding us about how wonderful our moms are, and why buying a product will
somehow make us more honorable offspring.
While
living in Asia, even without the sentimental Mother’s Day traditions and
advertising, the least I could do for you was to get on the FTD website and
send you some rotting floral arrangement. And why is that?
Perhaps
because even with your permission to not participate in the commercialism of
the holiday, I felt guilty. Neglectful. We were living so far away and making
you an orphan mom year after year while your peers went to brunch. I’m glad to
be from a society that makes such a big deal about the mothers. Even if it is commercialized
and only one day a year. It’s a good reminder for all the narcissistic offspring
to consider who laid the foundation in life for us.
You
were such a good, creative, energetic, talented, hardworking, efficient and
godly Mom. I looked up to you growing up and wanted to be like you in your
ability to juggle so much with such excellence and a good attitude.
Now
that you are in a different season and your contribution to the family is different
than the multi-tasking working mom, I admire you even more.
In
your Golden Years, you are peaceful,
kind, loving, sweet, caring, warm. It makes me cry to think about how wonderful
it is to be around you these past few years.
In
church yesterday YLFC Pastor Matthew asked us to fill in the blank, “My mom
always said…” Here’s my list from only thinking a couple of minutes:
·
Is
the Pope a Catholic?
·
Always
wear a slip.
·
Here's
a dime...[call someone who cares]
·
Bastanté
es bastanté.
·
Just
do it. (Before the Nike campaign…in fact
before Nike!)
·
Traps
Kim, traps.
·
Oh,
get over it.
·
You'd
lose your head if it wasn't fastened on.
Yeah, in earlier years, your warm heart
as a mother was expressed more in the TONS of cards you wrote for every
occasion. When you wrote to me it was always affirming and Godly messages on
cards and letters. I have many of them scanned and stored as treasured photos.
Here’s a couple of favorites:
(1885) (2004)
Thank you for a lifetime of treasured
memories. In my heart, and on my hard drive!
As
a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted
over Jerusalem. Isaiah 66:13
Love,
Your Firstborn, Kimberly Eileen
San Pedro, California, USA
Mother’s Day, 10 May 2015
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