It was being home when the street lights came on, carrying the laundry up the stairs, and not hitting our brothers. It was your voice calmly and yet quite firmly saying, “quit teasing the dog.” “This didn’t get broken by itself.” “Did you call your grandmother?” “If your friends jumped off a cliff would you follow them?” “Would you please flush the toilet?” “Did you get your homework done?” “Please put your clothes in the dirty clothes hamper.” “Don’t listen to your brother.” “Who left the lights on?” “Please pick up your room.” “Were you born in a barn?” “I didn’t raise you kids to be like this!” “Who tipped over the Christmas tree?” And, “it didn’t walk away by itself.”
Underlying it all, being spoken with undeniable clarity there were these messages. “I love you.” “You can achieve anything you want with your life.” “You kids are God’s gift to me.” “You’re the best kids in the world.” “I don’t deserve you boys.” “I’m praying for you.” “How can I help you?” “How are you doing?” “Do you need anything?” “I’m so proud of you boys.” It was all of those things, and so much more.
Mom, you were about the stuff of building the lives of three boys and taking care of a husband who was, at those rather impetuous times, a boy himself. It was really never about you. We tried to make it about you so many times, but you always politely declined. Rather, it was a selfless investment, pouring your life, your energies and fiber of your being into three boys who really had no clue what you were doing until they themselves were adults. Even today we are unable to fully fathom the depth of your sacrifices. While I would wish to say otherwise, I doubt that we will ever understand them fully.
We again commit to you on this Mother’s Day that we will strive to selflessly pour into the lives of others that which you so graciously poured into our lives. We know that any such efforts on our parts will pale indeed to the way in which you poured yourself into our lives. Know that we are committed to drawing from the innumerable footprints that you left, the lessons taught and lived, and the insights imparted. We will draw from the vast storehouse of memories packed tight with words, mental pictures, ceaseless emotions and warm thoughts. And we will live that out Mom, as we have for so many years since you passed. We will bring your life to the lives of our families, the people who populate our careers, and to those we meet in the briefest passing. You will live on Mom, here as well as in the marbled halls of heaven. You will touch innumerable lives through your three boys who you loved, equipped, nurtured, guided, guarded and then launched.
One final thing Mom; we want you to know that we will live each day in anticipation of seeing you again. However, we commit that we will not let that anticipation somehow diminish the efforts and energies we invest in living life. We will not live in some sort of distracted state, focused solely on the idea of seeing you again and awaiting that moment in such a way that the present moment is squandered. Rather, we will invest our lives vigorously while holding fast to the promise of scripture that there awaits for us a grand reunion, a wild celebration of relationships restored in a creation likewise restored. In the meantime Mom, know that you are loved, that you are fondly remembered, that you live on in us and that when stories of you are told, they will be told with the greatest love and deepest admiration.
Thanks Mom. We love more than simple words could hope to convey. God bless and see you soon.
Happy Mother’s Day,
Craig, Mark and Brett
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