It is Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor our Mom's. With the exception of my second Mother's Day, I have had wonderful days. I can remember sitting at Bennett Park for many years sitting in the cold, rain and sometimes sun, watching my kids play baseball. Funny, there never seemed to be any games on Father's Day, go figure.
For me, it is a particularly difficult day. I know that this will be the last mother's day for my Mom. What do you say to someone who has always been there for you, who has supported you for 50 years? She taught me how to be an independent woman, to work hard and to stand by my beliefs.
Her example as a wife was the road map I used for my own marriage - to be an equal partner - to give as much as I took. Most of all she taught me that marriage was equal, not 50 /50 because sometimes you have to give 90% and sometimes you give 10%.
As a mother, I drew from her wisdom and strength and also her faith. Knowing that the best thing I could do for my children was pray for them. She was there to give advice, but only when asked. She offered gentle suggestions, but most of all she offered the assurance that everything would be OK.
If in the future, I can be the same warm, caring mother-in-law she is, I will consider myself a success. She has expanded our family to include Mark, Kevin, Jack, Carolyn, Paul and Deb so closely that I am sure someone who didn't know the family intimately, would have a hard time picking out who were the children she raised. He love is that complete.
Her last and greatest lesson to me is to die with dignity. To live her faith completely to the end. to die as she has lived, a loving Christian woman. I love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day.
