Mother Always Knows Best

For Mother's Day, flowers are always good. But why not write a letter instead?

Mother’s Day has always been tricky for me. What gift is ever good enough for Moms – those souls who constantly give so much of themselves? Appliances might make their lives easier, but they don’t exactly get them out of the kitchen. A massage or spa day are great, too, but a few days later their backs are usually tied up in knots again. And what do you do on a fixed budget with no artistic skill? Popsicle picture frames are great when you’re in preschool, but what about high school, college and beyond?

So this year I’m taking a simpler route. I’ve written my Mom a note to thank her for all she’s done for me – and I thought I’d share it with you. Perhaps you want to do something similar for your own Mom:

Mom,

You have always put your family first, and continue to put your needs and comfort second to ours. You’ve always been the heart of the family, the glue that held us all together.

As it turns out, you were right more often than I admitted. Imagine that?!?
I love you more than you’ll ever know. And in case I haven’t told you lately, “Thank you.”

Thank you for going through the pain of childbirth and the discomfort of pregnancy.

Thank you for applying band-aids and for rushing me to the emergency rooms.

Thank you for going without things you needed, so I could have things I “wanted.”

Thank you for not getting mad when I jumped off the roof…either time.

Thank you for taking care of me when I had the chicken pox, fevers, and the flu.

Thank you for staying up baking because I forgot I needed 200 cupcakes the next day. I’m still writing lists “to remind myself of important things.”

Thank you for pretending to know what the picture was that I drew for you…and for always hanging that awful picture up on the fridge.

Thank you for not putting up with my temper tantrums when I didn’t get my way.

Thank you for picking me up from school when you knew I had faked sick…and for taking me to the doctor that day to insure I would never do it again. You won that one.

Thank you for (sort of) laughing after I drew all over the new wallpaper…with permanent marker. Moving that cabinet in front of the graffiti was an inspired decorating decision.

Thank you for cooking all the meals, and making us do dishes – very Godly (2 Kings 21:13b).

Thank you for always making sure I had clean clothes to wear (and getting me excited about the hand-me-downs).

Thank you for the discipline, the chores, the rules and the punishments. God knows that I needed it all.

Thank you for forgiving me after that whole “aluminum foil in the microwave” accident. I thought the Firemen were quite forgiving, as well.

Thank you for being my chauffeur for so many years.

Thank you for always reminding me to ‘be careful’ before I left the house.

Thank you for telling me the truth, and not always just agreeing with me.

Thank you for sitting and cheering through all of those games and meets, even when we lost.

Thank you for telling me my braces ‘didn’t look that bad’ when, clearly, I looked like I’d swallowed a Buick.

Thank you for making me go to Church, even when I didn’t want to.

Thank you for not backing down or agreeing when you saw me making bad decisions.

Thank you for all the prayers (I know) you said for me, when I was lost.

Thank you for the letters and care packages you sent when I was away at college.

Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

Thank you for not allowing me to settle for less than I could be.

Thank you for loving me when I said things that made you cry.

Thank you for loving me when I did things that hurt us both.

Thank you for being my Mom…I know there’s a God, and I’ve seen His love in you.

And thank you for being a mother after Mary’s own Immaculate Heart.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.

I love you!

Your son,

Mark

P.S. Oh, and thank you for pretending you love all your kids the same when it’s clear that I’m your favorite. ☺