Mother's Day

       Mother’s Day is a special day to celebrate and honor your mom along with other mother figures in your life. In many countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, this holiday is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. In some countries, such as Mexico and Russia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on a different day. Regardless, it is a time to reflect on the love and sacrifices your mom made for you as a child growing up, as well as the love and sacrifices she continues to make for you in your adult life. It is a day to express gratitude and appreciation to Mom. Mother’s Day was created years ago. In the United States in the early 1900s, Anna Jarvis, a peace activist, was inspired to create a day to honor her own mother who had passed away. Jarvis began campaigning for a national holiday to honor mothers. In 1914, after years of lobbying, President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the second Sunday in May as the national holiday of Mother’s Day. Since then, it has become a worldwide observance, with countries celebrating in various ways.

       Many people give gifts to their moms on this day, items like flower bouquets, jewelry, signed cards, and chocolates. Others take their moms out for a nice meal. Some families plan a fun day of activities together, such as a picnic in the park, a movie with popcorn, or a visit to a museum. The most important thing to remember on Mother’s Day is to spend quality time with your mom. It is meaningful when you communicate and let her know how important she is to you. Make a personal visit if possible. If not, give her a call. Share stories and fond memories. Express your gratitude for the love and support she has given and continues to give you.

       Motherhood brings with it significant joys along with significant challenges. Mothers play a crucial role in their children’s lives: providing love, support, basic necessities, learning opportunities, encouragement, and guidance. Moms commonly put their own needs aside to prioritize their children, making countless sacrifices as they grow up. They do this willingly and lovingly. Being a parent is not easy, and it is important on Mother’s Day to recognize and honor the hard work and commitment that goes into being a dedicated mom. Motherhood is a role of great consequence that lasts a lifetime. Recognize this and be sure to express your appreciation for your mom on Mother’s Day… and any other day of the year too.

Sunday, Mother's Day

Throughout this week before Mother's Day, I have been sharing things which I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day has included an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed the notes of gratitude from earlier days this week, see my previous posts. Today I wish all women everywhere a very happy Mother's Day!

We reached Day 1 - Happy Mother's Day!

I would like to quote for you what my son wrote in a penciled-out Mother's Day card he gave to me this morning.  It says "Thank you for always taking care of me, putting up with me, and loving me no matter what." 

Now this homemade card may have been quickly written with little forethought (typical of teenagers) but the message is powerful and effected me deeply. His words hit at the heart of exactly what a mother is meant to be: caring, tolerant, and loving--no matter what. 

I know, sadly, that not everyone who becomes a mother lives up to this divine role.  But my mother did. She cared for me when it was difficult; she put up with me when I behaved selfishly, and she always loved me no matter what. She never shirked this most important earthly role as mother to her children. 

Thank you, Mom, for your tolerance, endurance, sacrifices, and especially your love. I wish you a very happy, most deserved, Mother's Day.   

Yes, I do know how lucky I am.

"Mothers were meant to love us unconditionally, to understand our moments of stupidity, to reprimand us for lame excuses while yet acknowledging our point of view, to weep over our pain and failures as well as cry at our joy and successes, and to cheer us on despite countless start-overs. Heaven knows no one else will."
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year



"I never knew what Mother knowed,
Like how a thread and needle sewed,
And how a kiss healed boo-boos fast.
Why family knots were made to last.

I never knew how Mother saw
A caring man in angry pa,
A smile beneath the teary gloom,
A game inside a messy room.

I never knowed what Mother knew,
Like how to smile when days were blue,
And how to laugh for laughter’s sake,
While giving up her slice of cake.

I never saw what Mother see’d
Like honor pulling garden weeds,
Or deep confessions in a look,
And hope alive in storybooks.

I never knew how Mother knowed
To hand out carrots when it snowed,
And why hot cocoa liked the rain,
While naptime kept a person sane.

For mother knowed and see’d it all.
A winner in a strike-out ball.
A 'yes, please' in a shoulder shrug.
A 'love you mostest' in a hug.

Perhaps, someday, I’ll come to know
What Mother saw and knowed as so.
Like how 'I’m right' can be all wrong,
And why the night requires a song.

But of the things I learned and knew
I never doubted one thing true.
My mother made it crystal clear,
she knowed and loved me ever dear."
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

Saturday, Countdown to Mother's Day

Throughout this week before Mother's Day, I have been sharing things which I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day has included an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed the notes of gratitude from earlier days this week, see my previous posts. Enjoy this one (and the cute pictures) on the day before Mother's Day.

Day 2

I was looking through a book of old photos today, smiling at pictures from my youth, and I realized that a lot of them show moments I don't recall. It seems that yesterday can be as great a mystery as tomorrow. This rings true to me when I examine photos of my childhood and wonder about the stories behind them. I am deeply thankful my mother took the time to record things I did, places I visited, and activities in which I participated. Especially considering that photography took much more effort than it does today. It's been fun to look back and relearn a little about myself. Thank you, Mom. 

"My mother does not own my hands,
though she works hard to train them.
My mother does not own my eyes,
though she frequently directs their focus.
My mother does not own my mind,
though she yields great influence upon it.
My heart, however, she owns completely,
for it was hers the day I was born."
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

 

"Things that remind me of Mother are these:
the truth ‘mid deception, a warm summer breeze,
the calm within chaos, a stitch in a rip,
a comforting blanket, the smile on her lip,
an ocean of love in a heart big as whales,
the morals in everyday stories she tells,
a wink amid laughter, the wisdom in books,
the peace in humility, beauty in looks,
the light and the life in a ray of the sun,
the hard work accomplished disguised as pure fun,
concern in a handclasp, encouragement too,
the hope in a clear morning sky azure blue,
the power in prayers uttered soft and sincere,
the faith in a promise, and joy in a tear.
These things all attest to the wonder and grace
of my precious mother, none else could replace."
— Richelle E. Goodrich, Slaying Dragons: Quotes, Poetry, & a few Short Stories for Every Day of the Year

Friday, Countdown to Mother's Day

Throughout this week before Mother's Day, I have been sharing things that I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day has included an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed these notes of gratitude from earlier days this week, see my previous posts. Enjoy this one for today.


Day 3

    

One thing I associate with my mother is a great love for art. From my youngest memories, I recall her putting a paintbrush to canvas and—stroke by stroke—creating beautiful images. Painting was her talent and hobby, and she spent much of her free time enjoying the creative process.



My mother used her artistic gift on many occasions to created props and scenery for scouting, school, and church functions. Over the years she created multiple backdrops for different scenes in the Christmas nativity story. It is a tradition that our extended family preforms this play every year using her painted backdrops. Sometimes my mother gave her paintings away as gifts. One of her original oils hangs on the wall in my front room. (See the painting above.) It evokes a calm, inviting effect on those who pause to appreciate the scene.

   My own love for art is a result of my mother's creative example. She gave me the confidence to design the covers for each of my authored books. Perhaps a greater blessing is the influence she has had on her grandchildren, most of whom she taught to paint to some degree. I know that a few of them won ribbons at the local county fair with her help. (The dragon painting was done by my son with his grandmother's guidance.)

I am thankful my talented mom chose to use her talent for the benefit of many, and especially to help her children and grandchildren develop their artistic talents as well.

"Without you there would be no me.

I am everything reflected in your eyes.

I am everything approved by your smile.

I am everything born of your guidance.

I am me only because of you."

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year

Thursday, Countdown to Mother's Day

This whole week before Mother's Day I am sharing things which I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day from now until Mother's Day will include an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed the notes of gratitude from earlier days this week, see my previous posts.


Day 4

 Today I have been thinking about the numerous times my mother put her energy into helping me with my activities. From volunteering in my Girl Scout troop; to driving me around to attend ballet lessons, swimming lessons, piano lessons, etc; to planning birthday parties that, every now and then, included a rowdy slumber party.  My mom was always generous with her time.  She gave me a large percentage of many precious hours—a commodity that most of us would greedily purchase if it were possible.  Can you believe she even took tap dancing lessons with me for a whole year?   

I remember in junior high biology class writing up lab papers that my teacher insisted be turned in typed or exceptionally well-written.  My mother spent a couple of hours every week typing my biology labs with her portable typewriter so I could turn in high-quality work. (Desktop computers and laptops were unheard of back then.)   

My mother's kind example has been a big influence on my own mothering. I drive my kids to and from numerous activities and sometimes type up hand-written essays (thank goodness for laptops and printers.)  I've planned many birthday parties that included rowdy sleepovers like the ones I once enjoyed.  And believe it or not, I even took two years of karate with my kids to prevent them from losing interest in the martial arts!  It paid off too because we presently have a pair of brown belts and a black belt in the family.  I, myself, actually made it to the level of purple belt!   

I am grateful to my mother for the time she invested in me. I hope she knows I understand the worth of that time.  

MOTHERS

Measuring

Out

Their

Highest

Efforts

Rearing

Souls

— Richelle E. Goodrich

 

FRIDAY, DAY 3

Wednesday, Countdown to Mother's Day

This whole week before Mother's Day I am sharing things which I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day from now until Mother's Day will include an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed the notes of gratitude for Monday or Tuesday, see my previous posts.


Day 5

 

Hours form days which turn to months that build into years. When looking back, it seems time passes rather swiftly. Living in each moment, it may feel as if very little gets accomplished. Yet evidence of great change and mounting achievements can be seen in journal entries, photographs, and other collected keepsakes. 

My siblings and I were lucky that our mother understood how silly scraps would someday become treasures, and she kept them in order to preserve a portion of our childhood. For tens of years my mother gathered progress reports, scouting achievements, playbills, programs from musical events, ordinance certificates, grade school papers, and other evidence of milestones in the lives of her children.  I now cherish these items for the memories they revive.

Having learned from my mother to appreciate the value of journaling and scrapbooking, I have followed her example by treasuring up sentimental keepsakes for my own children. Someday, they will look through their boxes of silly scraps and smile and be blessed by a flooding of precious (and some harebrained) memories. 

"I stumble and fall.

I weep and struggle to rise.

My mom feels it all."

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year

THURSDAY, DAY 4

Tuesday, Countdown to Mother's Day

I decided to use this week before Mother's Day to share things for which I am extremely thankful to have gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day from now until Mother's Day will include an original quote pertaining to mothers.  If you missed Monday's note of gratitude, see my previous post.


Day 6

Today I have been thinking about the many talents my mother possesses, which she used to bless the lives of her children while raising them. She was never one to say "it can't be done" but rather "how can we make it happen?"  She taught me through her own ingenuity to be creative, imaginative, inventive, and resourceful. Many times in my younger years we lacked the money for things I wanted, but that hardly ever stopped my mother from seeking another way to achieve the same goal if not something similar, using the money and materials we had.  I recall one incident in particular...

When I was a young teenager, it was a popular thing to own a jean jacket.  Many of my fellow students wore stylish jean jackets every day.  I was envious and wanting; therefore, I begged my mom to buy one for me. But the item was expensive and unnecessary.  So what did my wonderful mother do?  She took me to a clothing store to look at jean jackets and asked which one in particular I liked. Then she stood there with pencil and paper and made quick sketches of the front and back, the sleeves, pockets, snaps, and collar.  It took a lot of guess work and design editing, but my mother managed to sew from scratch a jacket that looked much like the one sold at the store.  

As a gifted seamstress, she frequently made articles of clothing that I or my siblings desired.  In fact, to spite the cost of prom dresses, she designed and made for me three gowns that I wore to multiple school dances!  That's me in the above picture wearing a dress she made.   

I learned from my mother to think outside the box; I learned there are other ways of reaching my goals when the direct road is blocked.  I learned to imagine and create and design for myself using a multitude of medias.  Any talent I have, is owed in great part to my amazing mother.

 

"MOM—Mistress Of Miracles"

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Making Wishes: Quotes, Thoughts, & a Little Poetry for Every Day of the Year

WEDNESDAY, DAY 5

Monday, Countdown to Mother's Day

Often around Thanksgiving time, people spend a few moments in the preceding days writing about things for which they are thankful. The effort tends to promote a positive attitude as well as remind us that life is filled with much good.  In this same spirit, I have decided to use this week before Mother's Day to share things for which I am extremely thankful I gained from my mother. And because I love quotes and poetry, each day from now until Mother's Day will include an original quote pertaining to mothers.


Day 7

Today I have thought a lot about important things my mother taught me, and there is one truth above all else I am thankful she took the time to instill in my developing sense of identity: that is the knowledge that I am a child of God.  She taught me to believe in God, to pray and speak to Him daily, and to understand that He is my Heavenly Father.  This not only boosts my confidence but encourages me to strive to reach my greater potential and to live as a daughter in whom He would be well-pleased.  I am thankful my mother took the time to teach me of spiritual things.  I am a better person because of it.

"I am, for the most part, who I am

because my good mother was who she was."

— Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, & Grumblings for Every Day of the Year

TUESDAY, DAY 6

You Breathe...Thank Your Mother

It's almost Mother's Day, and so I've been pondering ways I can convey to my mother the depth of gratitude I feel for those great and numberless tasks she performed for my good when I was a child, not to mention her continual influence still shaping my thoughts and actions today.  My mother has given me much by making sacrifices beyond my comprehension.  She means the world to me.

The truth is, I have a wonderful mother.  

The truth is, not everyone can say those words.

I know people who ignore the holiday entirely.  Some rehearse a mental list of faults possessed by the woman they call mother.  Still others wonder around this time who their mother is....or was.....if only they could have been blessed to know her.  Despite our varied differences and attitudes about Mother's Day, there is one thing we share in common—one precious truth for which we can show our gratitude regardless.  And that is this:

Our mothers—apart from their strengths and defects, their successes and failures, their good and bad behavior, and even their mental, emotional, or physical absence or overbearing attentiveness—gave us the miraculous, valuable, precious gift of life.

Miraculous because we could never have bestowed it upon ourselves.

Valuable because of the endless opportunities and experiences it affords us.  

Precious because we have but one.  

So regardless of blame, faults, and flaws, remember you were given life by a woman.

You breathe.

You feel.

You see

and hear

and smell

and taste

and think

and move

and laugh

and weep

and heal

and dance

and sing

and love.

Thank your mother.

My Mother, My Heartbeat

The first thing you heard in this life (though memory fails you) was the steady, mortal heartbeat of the woman who would give birth to you. Before sight or mental comprehension developed, your mother's heartbeat sang sweet comfort to your soul. You were formed inside a borrowed womb—a nourishing safe haven for months—then delivered through painful effort and sacrifice.

This woman was willing to give you the precious gift of life. That truth alone deserves your gratitude and respect.

But motherhood does not end there. While birth is a miracle—bestowing this amazing thing called life to another soul—the greater miracle by far lies within the intense emotional bond attached to the experience. There exists no decent description to convey the profound magnitude of a mother's love. To truly be understood it must be experienced.

Mothers

observe all, absorb all,

give all, forgive all,

offer all, suffer all,

feel all, heal all,

hope for all, pray for all.

But most of all,

Mothers

love always.

What is more powerful than the love of a mother?

What possesses more strength than her humbly whispered prayers?

Perhaps only God's hand in answering those earnest pleadings on your behalf.

A woman's heart is changed forever when she becomes a mother. Like the caterpillar turned butterfly, there is no reversing this divine transformation.

That heartbeat that welcomed your precious little spirit into this mortal world—that steady, dependable, comforting rhythm—for as long as it continues will beat for you.

From the beginning your mother was your heartbeat; your source of nourishment; your protector; your provider; your first looking glass into the world. And the day her heartbeat ceases, yours will forever be affected.

You are, for the most part, who you are because of your mother.


Love you, Mom.

"Mothers give us life, love, and the heartfelt inclination to cry, 'I want my mommy,' no matter  how old we get." 

~Richelle E. Goodrich