True confession time: This week’s Words of Encouragement was pretty easy to write, because we once again get to celebrate the moms out there who have personified what it means to be dedicated, loving, and willing to sacrifice for others.
As I mentioned in last year’s Mother’s Day note, my mom was a “Champion Encourager.” As such, she loved her six kids unconditionally and made sure she was always there to lift us up and boost our spirits.
Some of you wrote me last year after I shared my experiences about growing up and attending St. Gertrude’s in Chicago. Hard as it may be for some of you to believe this, I was not necessarily an angelic student. So my time at St. Gertrude's periodically included trips to the principal’s office where Sister Mary Kyran would offer her thoughts about the stuff that “won” me that trip to her office.
I mention this because after I became a father and was talking to my mom about our kids and school “stuff”, my mom reminded me about the importance of always looking for the positives in raising our kids. As an example, she referenced one of her conversations that she had when Sister Mary Kyran decided to tell my mom about the (substantial) list of areas where I could improve.
Always looking for the positives, my mom told me she was disappointed with Sister Mary Kyran. My mom noted that she could have at least started the conversation by affirming that, “At least Michael breathes really well!" She always was looking for the positives.
Blessed with a great sense of humor, she also liked to remind me that if I didn’t call and sing Happy Birthday to her (her birthday was one week before mine), she would not call and sing Happy Birthday to me. I’m proud to say that I never missed her birthday.
While neither my mom or me could carry a tune, we still had to ham it up and pretend like we were great operatic singers. As such, we had to pour our hearts and souls into making sure that our rendition of “Happy Birthday” was the best version that had ever been sung.
In reading this note, perhaps some of you will also reflect with joy and happiness on your own favorite mom stories. And as you ponder those moments, I thought you once again might really enjoy watching this short video from American Greetings about the World’s Toughest Job. After I sent this out in last year’s Mothers Day Note of Encouragement, several readers confirmed: It is one of the best videos honoring our moms. Personally, it brings me to tears just about every time I watch it.
As we honor those with the “toughest job in the world” I am reminded of the words from Proverbs 31 because they describe what made my mom, and perhaps your moms as well so special:
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue…. honor her for all that her hands have done and let her works bring her praise at the gates.
Before my mother passed away in 2013, she reminded me that just as she had always done when we were kids, she was going ahead of us and making sure things were prepared. But I trust that many of you who are reading this will share the sentiments I also shared with my mom as the finish line came into sight: “Here or not, you will always be with me.”
To all the mothers out there, have a wonderful Mother’s Day. And thank you for enthusiastically accepting the Toughest Job in the World!
