I've seen the following essay in several forms. I plan to read this one at a family gathering for my beloved mother: "A Mother's Journey" A young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is the way long?" she asked. The guide said, "Yes, the way is long and hard and mostly uphill. You will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning." The young mother was happy and could not believe that anything in the whole world could be better than these years. She & her husband played with their children, worked with them, and bathed them in clear mountain streams. The sun shone on the family, and the mother thought, "Nothing can be lovelier than this!" The the night came, and the path was dark. Loved ones went on ahead and could be seen no more. The children shook with fear and cold, so the mother drew them close to herself and covered them with her mantle until the children were warmed and comforted. They said, "Mother we are afraid no more, for you are near." When the morning came, the mother, alone now with her children, saw a steep hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, too. But at all times she said, "A little patience, and we'll be there!" So the children bravely climbed. When they reached the top, they exclaimed, "Mother! We could not have done this without you!" That night, the mother, as she lay down and looked up at the stars, said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of difficulty. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength." The next day brought strange clouds which darkened the earth--storm clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled. The mother said, "Look up. Lift your eyes to see above the storm." And the children looked up and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. that night the mother said, "This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God." The days went on--the weeks and months and years--and the mother grew old and bent. She spoke often of the glory of God revealed in His Word, in nature, and through His Son. She spoke of eternal things and pointed to a bright future, even when the way was rough. Even when her children, who were now tall and strong, had to carry her. They lifted her as they came to a hill, and beyond it, they could see a shining road with gates flung open wide on both sides of it. The mother said, "I am reaching the end of my journey. And now I know for sure the end is better than the beginning, for my children all know God and can walk alone, and they will teach their children after them." And the children said, "Mother, our God will always walk with us, as He has walked with you. You taught us early to love the Precious Name of Jesus and to appreciate the Word of God. "You were our first home and our first love, which pointed us to greater Love. You taught us to sing and pray on this journey, and as we stand with you now, looking ahead to the coming new Spring time in our Heavenly Home, we are thankful. "We will remember the things you have taught us and will try to follow your faithful footsteps until the happy day when we join you, pure and holy, around the throne of God." **************************************** (If anyone knows who the original author is, I'd like to acknowledge him or her.) We'll have a short time of sharing with extended family and my dear mother (who is now 94), eat lunch, and visit. So, what are others planning?
I am sorry to hear that. I hope there were other wonderful women in your life who loved you and whom you could look up to like a mother.
Thank you! I have a few friends that are in their 70's that are like moms to me. So I have been very blessed in that area. I made them special cards for Mother's Day!
No grandmothers either? Well, I'll just bet those dear friends really treasure their relationship with you. How thoughtful of you to remember them on Mother's Day! That reminds me of my dear aunt whose only child was killed in a wreck. She'll be at the family gathering. I know it will be hard on her, and I'm wondering how to make it special... Maybe by getting a flower in honor of her son... Well, Katie, be blessed in your own motherhood this weekend! I hope it will be extra special for you!
My mom died in a car accident when I was 4. My dad remarried, and I have a step-mom, but we have never been close. (She wasn't concerned with my sister and me once she had a child of her own.) This will be the first Mother's day that we will not be able to visit family.
Kris, you mean you aren't going to take your wonderful mother in law to a day spa and hang out drinking martinis??
My mom will be out of town, I still got her a lovely card and we will see her the day after, I got a coupon today in an E-mail from the Home Depot for buy one get one free hanging basket....... I know my DH is very disapointed that he cant do the things for me (nice presents and dinner at the mexican resturant) because we aren't getting the economic stimulus check. (until July)
I bought THE BIG THREE- my mom, MIL and Gma-IL all the Teleflora teapot bouquet. All the other moms in the family I will email.
I took my mom out to eat at the first of the month. She has to work 12s this weekend. I also didn't want to go out to eat this weekend. Imagine the crowds. I got flowers today from hubby. Oh and we are working in the garden after church.
