In Honor of My Mom...A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Well, it's not surprising that this post is a day late.  Because my mom was kind of characterized by being late :) .  'A day late and a dollar short.' -- I don't know if my mom ever said this, but she probably did.  Because she was famous for busting out little quotes like this and then laughing herself silly at what she had just said.  And that quote fits her nicely, actually.  She didn't have a whole lot in the way of monetary things.  But in the end, none of that really matters, does it. 

It's who you lived it for that matters.

My mother passed away on Feb. 17, 2007.  She was the picture of sacrifice. She never, ever did anything for herself. She sacrificed her personal time, her money, her whole life really, for us. She was one of the most giving persons I know. She raised five children all by herself and somehow kept her sanity--well, maybe partly kept her sanity :) . She always had time to talk on the phone, watch her grandkids, listen to our 'funny' stories. She had an off-the-wall sense of humor. She had a beautiful smile and fun laugh. She didn't have a materialistic bone in her body. Now, don't get me wrong. She wasn't perfect. There were times she made me mad (really mad, if I'm going to be honest! :) )  But one thing is for sure, she was ALWAYS there for us. And she loved us more than her own life.  Since her death, I have learned so much from thinking back over her life. I have gotten a small human 'glimpse' of Jesus and his sacrifice for me in the sacrificial life my mom lived for my siblings and me. Jesus died for me so that I could live; my mom died to her own 'life' so that I could have the life I now have.

This year was the first year that I can really say that I enjoyed Mother's Day--that it was more joyful for me than it was sad.  One of time's healing aspects, I suppose.  Before this year, the void was just too big.  It brought with it a stream of raw emotions.  The void is definitely still there, but it is not as painful.  I can look back on those memories now and--just enjoy.  And look around me at my five dear children and--just enjoy.  Exactly what my mom would want me to do on a day designed to celebrate motherhood.