A Lesson On Life From My Mom

I’ve been thinking lately about our course through this life, where we began to where we are now… little girls who grow up to be mothers, and what happens beyond that stage… I visualize who my mother was as a little girl as I sort through her childhood pictures and recognize that once upon a time she was just like me when I was younger; excited and sad, nervous and scared at times, ever-learning about life as she stumbles and falls, picks herself back up with determination to keep trying… she once was nervous and then overjoyed about those major life decisions and commitments of going to school, getting married, buying her first house and having children. She had her feelings hurt, she experienced frustration & anger, battled her inner demons that tried to bring her down with sorrow and embarrassment and even anxiety, and then felt the relief of rising above it all stronger than before. My mother once experienced life like me, and I am left wondering why have I seen her as this indestructible figure – immune to the storms of life and fragile emotions… why did I once upon a time fight against calling her after I left home, behaving like I didn’t need my parents anymore; thinking that she could carry her own, I’m independent now and have my own life – leave me alone! Knowing now that my mom was once like me, her feelings were fragile, she cried like I do, she had fear and worries like me… she loved passionately for those close to her like I do. I look at her now and see my future. I see her feelings more tender than ever before…

I see that life has slowed down and she see’s the world in a new light and all that is important to her is her loved ones. She waits eagerly by her phone for someone to think of her and give her a call to just chat about anything – she doesn’t care what the topic is, she just wants to hear their voice. The material things have become all but meaningless in this last stage of life for her – she is completely present and ready to embrace those who she loves.

As I look upon her childhood picture and compare it to this sketch I created of her and I, I see that who she once was as a small child to who she is today isn’t that much different. We both began life with eyes wide open to the wonders and *feelings* of the world; fresh from heaven, eager to love, eager to experience relationships and learn about life… she now has returned back to where she began, closer to where she once came from – eager to love, more attentive to what really matters in life. What a valuable lesson she has taught me by example to not let the loud noise of the world distract me, to not let the material things of the world consume me… to slow down, embrace my feelings and be attentive and ever present. I think I will make some time to call this beautiful woman who is waiting patiently by her phone – and remind her how much I love her, how much I appreciate everything she has given me, and how much I look forward to being just like her when I get older. 🙂 How lucky and blessed am I to have her in my life.