Sunday, May 8, 2011

Sunday Faith Blog: Mothers

I know that some mothers are difficult to honor and probably some of you have experienced that in your lives with your mother and I'm deeply sorry for that.....
 
If you'd be willing to share how you had problems with your mother but they were somehow healed or resolved in positive ways, I know we'd all like to read them particularly on this day;  maybe someone will be blessed in recognizing something they could do to heal wounds with their mother (or father?) Has there been a STEP Mother in your life who was a blessing or difficult to honor?  That might help my readers, too, if things somehow improved?


"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." Exodus 20:12 

Consider telling us any kind of story about your mother or someone else's mother on my Comments Page........Brag about yours, we'd like to hear that, too!



Blessings and "thank you" to all the very special mothers at GeeeeZ on this special day!
Z

29 comments:

Always On Watch said...

I didn't do a Mothers' Day post today. I find it difficult to come up with a post on this topic as Mom died in 1987 and my "second mother" in 2010.

Can I brag about my mother? Sure.

I remember one time, when I was a teenager, I screamed at my mother, "Why do you always have to be right?" She was, too, and it drove me crazy until I was older. Once older and more mature, I learned to go to my mother for advice -- and to accept that advice.

Looking back, I see that my mother (and my father, too, of course) bought for me the one thing nobody can ever rob me of: my education.

My mother and I were best friends once I got out of those terrible teens.

Speedy G said...

Have a great day all you Mothers and lovers of Mothers!

WomanHonorThyself said...

hiya Z..beautiful post for those who have difficulties today..HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to you and yours~! :)

Z said...

I never chose to have children and then I married late enough to guarantee that! Mr Z came with teenagers and, mostly, things were good, particularly because they live in Munich most of the time (we've all heard horror stories between stepkids and stepparents whose cohabitation was not a success)...

But, i wanted to say that, at my ripe old age, I got Mother's Day flowers yesterday, and an amazing sentiment on the card, for the first time in my life.
it felt good. :-)

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I'm blessed with a mom that still sees me as her baby boy. :)

Pris said...

Happy Mother's Day to all Moms here, and to a special Stepmom named Z.

My Mom was a wonderful mother, and role model for my sister and I.
I always felt I could go to her for advice.

Character issues were her focus in raising us, and the importance of family. Her trust in us left us never wanting to let she and Dad down, so we were pretty good kids.

She died in 2002 and I miss her terribly. We were very close.

She would call me during Dodger games just to share a cheer over the phone. For a couple of years after she died, as I watched the games I would sometimes expect the phone to ring, then realize, that was not to be.

I've been a lucky gal to have had her here as long as I did, and in many ways she still is.

Anonymous said...

Jeeez Ms. Prisc....that was awsome.

Thanks for sharing that.

Jan said...

Z..I'm so glad you got those flowers, and the wonderful sentiment, because from all that I perceive from what you've said about Mr. Z's children, and your respect, and affection for them, and theirs for you, I know it is so deserved.

I am blessed, in that I have no complaints about my own mother, and I wish that it could be that way for everyone, but I know it isn't, and that is sad.

My childhood was not ideal, and was rather deprived when compared with others, but I had the most loving, caring, sweetest woman on earth for a mother. She was humble, but had a way of making everyone else feel that they were the most important person around.

She was an encourager, and she never condemned anyone. She so easily forgave anyone who hurt her, or did her wrong in any way. She always saw the best in everyone, and I can honestly say that I never heard her gossip, or put anyone down, for any reason.

Life for her was not easy--it never was. She received much abuse in her lifetime, but it did not break her, nor cause her to give up on herself, or on life. She had a quiet faith in God, that was just...there. She didn't have to talk about it...you just knew.

Her latter years were filled with much suffering, and although many may not understand when I say that much good came out of her suffering, I have to say that it was so.

She touched so many lives, without even knowing, and I know of some lives which were changed for the better, because of her.

So on this Mother's Day I want to pay tribute to my own Dear Mother, Sarah Hattie Mae, whose very name as I write it, causes my throat to constrict with the pain of missing her, and my tears to flow in happiness at the remembrance of her, and of all that she was.

Mama, today, yesterday, and forever, the memory of you is a priceless treasure... and you will always be my pretty girl.

Thank you, dear Z, for giving us the opportunity to honor our mothers on this special day.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Proverbs 31:10

Z said...

Always, Pastor this morning did a run-down on us as children and how we balk when MOM says anything...then as we mature, older and older (and he gave examples of every 5-10 years or so, like, by 25..."boy, maybe she wasn't wrong ALL the time AFTER all!?"!) how we finally respect and honor our mom's advice, it was a really cute part of the sermon...

I have a marvelous mother who gave us all SO much and my parents had an amazingly happy marriage (after having known each other only 3 months upon marrying) and I think that helps create a happier home, too...and a happier (i.e. better) mother.
THe one thing I could never stand was when I asked "But, WHY?"
And I heard "BECAUSE I SAID SO!"

I think a lot of kids today would benefit more from that than they do the philosophical, psychological mumbojumbo I hear from parents today when they REASON with their kids.
Some reasoning and teaching is GREAT but MODELING is better...and it's good, in my humble opinion, to remember MOM and DAD are in charge...it helps one throughout one's life in dealing with teachers and, later, employers.
But, that's just my opinion.
I hate to see children so VERY spoiled today....my saying I invented on that is:

"you must never spoil your children because you can NEVER make it up to them."

I think I'm right.

Speedy, thanks!

Woman:I thought it important to cover that angle of Mother's Day and had hoped to get some advice here...am still hoping to! THanks!

Beamish...that's good AND bad :-) heh!

Pris, it's so nice to hear from people who respected and adored their mothers...thanks for that.

Mom's recovering from bronchitis (please pray if you feel like it) so our Mom's Day was canceled as she was hoping she'd feel better by today than she is :-(

namaste said...

happy mothers' day to you too, z! thanks for spreading your love and kindness!

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

For those with mothers and fathers still alive, love them, appreciate their sacrifice on their behalf, and treasure their presence and wisdom.

BZ

Anonymous said...

The older I get the closer I am with my mom. She's one of the most amazing women I know. She's definitely modeled patience for me.

Ducky's here said...

I never really knew her.

Z said...

Jan! I just saw your wonderful post...thanks SO much for sharing about your mother...it really touched me. She must have been quite a woman and it makes me happy you felt good sharing a little bit about her with us.

BZ, good advice.

Namaste, thanks......I thought of you and had to drop by and wish you the best!

Jen...You speak about your children via email to me in ways I can't describe...no word's good enough.
Just wanted to mention that.
And yes, modeling is everything.

Z said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Anonymous said...

Thank you Z. That's loving of you.

I'm sorry to hear that Ducky.

Brooke said...

Happy mother's day, Z!

christian soldier said...

So glad you received flowers and well wishes--

Ducky - sad that you never knew your Mom...

C-CS

Bob said...

My mother died about 10 years ago, and my mother-in-law died about 12 years ago. Occasionally, either my wife or I will want to pick up the phone and talk to our mothers, but we don't have their numbers. We have great memories.

We spent Mother's Day at my daughter's house with our grandchildren.

We have a grandson (2 1/2), and a granddaughter (1). They are wonderful, and our daughter is a real sweetie.

It was great day.

Z said...

Ducky, I'm very sorry to hear that.

Bob, so glad you had a good day! And that you have such good memories of your mother and your mother-in-law.
I reached for the phone to call my grandmother for about two years after she died....my hand would be in the air about to grab for the phone and I'd remember; felt terrible.

thanks, CS and Brooke xxx

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Well, I'm not going to go running to mom to kiss my boo-boos when I skin my knee at 40 yrs. old, but I'm sure my mom would if she thought it would help.

:D

Z said...

attaboy, Beamish....good attitude.
I meant no criticism earlier, by the way.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I know you didn't, Z.

I just realized after I posted that my mom still sees me as her baby boy that it connoted some weird imagery of me in a bib with a woman in her mid-sixties spooning pureed sweet peas and carrots into my drooling face and burping me afterwards.

I looked into my mother's face and really noticed her gray hair and wrinkles today. They've been there for years, but it really hit me today... that there may only be 15 to 20 Mother's Days left to spend with her. The mortality of it really hit me today.

But then again, her mother is still alive and daily setting a family lifespan record...

I've just never really thought about a world where Mom is gone. And perhaps I should. Before it happens.

Jan said...

"I looked into my mother's face and really noticed her gray hair and wrinkles today."

Beamish...I remember the first time that happened to me. It was one time when I had gone down home to spend a couple of weeks with her I had kissed her, and hugged her, 'goodbye' and was backing out of the driveway, on my way back home

She was standing there, on the porch, waving, trying to smile through her tears, and it was suddenly like a physical pain in my body, as the realization hit me, that she was not getting any younger, and perhaps that could be the very last time that I ever saw her...perhaps, the last time I would ever feel her arms around me again. I understand, exactly, what you are saying.

And just in case you didn't know, it doesn't matter how old our children are....how educated, or sophisticated, or successful, or just the opposite of all of that...they're still our babies, and always will be.

I know mine are. :)

Z said...

beamish, there's almost nothing still which warms my heart in the amazing way it warms when I call Mom and she sounds SO happy to hear me and says so cheerfully "oh, HI, HONEY!" :-) delicious.
the very thought of losing that strikes fear in my heart....literally.

On a lighter note, we women start looking into our faces in the mirror at a certain age and see Mom there...not quite so delicious !!!

Jan's right, I suppose...I never had children but we're always their children. I will say that I get what you mean; that the delicious feeling I get when I hear "HI HONEY" makes me feel 8 years old sometimes! And that's not BAD! I don't go get my dolls out and fight with my neighbor about who's Barbie doll dress the black/white stripe one is!!!!
no, it just plain feels good to feel like a loved child, that's all.

cube said...

I can't imagine life without my mother. I still miss my paternal grandmother who died in 1972 and my maternal grandmother who died in 1990.

I'm so grateful that Ma is healthy and spry. I think gardening and babysitting her grandchildren keep her young.

Hoping your mom feels better soon.

Mark said...

I've always loved and respected my mom, maybe because I'm her youngest of 6 kids. I remember as a child I would often stop her as she walked through the house to just hug her. She never acted much as if she appreciated that, although, I didn't really notice until thinking back on it years later.

Two years ago, My wife and I made the cross country drive to visit her in Kansas. It was the first time my wife had ever met her.

We had a very nice visit, but afterward, my wife remarked that my mom seemed to be annoyed by me.

Later, after considering that, plus other incidents over the years, I've come to the conclusion that my mom doesn't really like me much. I don't know why.

Perhaps she has never forgiven me for being rebellious as a teenager.

Z said...

cube, thanks for the good wishes for my mother.
I love how you love your family.


Mark....sounds like your mother might be very "to herself" anyway, no? Is she much more visible in her affection with your siblings? My mother can be slightly cool, I must admit, it's just her nature,...she may not hug as much as I saw moms on TV hug, but she SHOWED through every day work and the beautiful touches she added to the 'work' that she loved us...
I hope you don't carry that with you, about your Mom.....
that's HERS, if it's true...not YOURS! :-)

end of sermon :-) I hope your wife's a great gal, and I'm sure she is!
Maybe Mom wasn't too pleased it took some time to meet your wife?!!

gramma2many said...

I know I am late posting here, so I will just say, with tears in my eyes, I miss my mother so much!