King James Version (KJV) Ps-16-6
The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places;
yea, I have a goodly heritage.
Like many of you, I’m sure, there is some sadness and longing as I think of my mother. We celebrated our last Mother’s Day together in 1997, so today I will think about all of the good years we had as mother and daughter, and later as Grandmother and mother too.
I was lucky to have her for the first fifty years of my life, as I wasn’t born until after her 41st birthday. She was an older mom, but I like to think that she had worked out all of the kinks on her older children by the time she got to me!
My mother was a enthusiastic and hands-on grandmother. She loved children, and they her. I think a part of her never grew up. She taught one of my nephews to climb a tree, and my daughter to ride a two-wheeler.
My daughter was the youngest grandchild, and very close to my mother from the day she was born until the day that her grandmother died. The year before, she and my son-in-law published a book in honor of her grandmother’s 90th birthday. We all contributed essays and tributes, but my daughter’s was the best:
When I was a teenager, I remember Grandma used to say “You never listen to me!” But Gram, you were wrong. I listened, and I watched and learned; and I believe that there’s a little magic piece of you inside me.
I know it’s that little piece that makes me stop on my walk to the train in the morning to watch the rest of the sunrise, or pull over to the side of the road to pick up a fall leaf or smell the lilacs in the spring.
Grandma used to cut fruit apart to show me the beautiful patterns inside. She watered the plants and told me to listen to them drink. She brushed the dirt off the vegetables in the garden and bit into them, telling me to taste their goodness. She sees beauty and magic everywhere. I believe she sees God all the time, in all the good and lovely things of the earth.
Gram, I hope you know how rich my life is and what wonderful memories I have because you were there for me. What a lucky child I was to have a grandmother with an endless supply of “rainy day” projects and your bottomless scrap bags and boxes full of fabric, felt, sequins, buttons, construction paper, papier mache, modeling clay, paints and brushes! You were always thinking of Kevin [her cousin] and me, planning special treats and activities for us. And you always, always had time to listen to my childish thoughts and ideas. Maybe I was “spoiled” as a child, but I think it’s great that you made me feel like the most important person in the world.
Even now, I feel your unconditional love and your prayers for me every day. When I can’t sleep, I hear your voice: “Think quiet thoughts.” When I’ve messed things up, I remember your wise, “What’s done is done.” Most important I remember your “I love you.”
Thank you for all you have given to me. Happy Birthday!
Grandma Jessie & Jen
On Mother’s Day, I also think about the other women who encouraged and inspired me.
Among my earliest memories is Aunt Flossie, also my godmother, who had a house full of grown boys when I was born, and our next-door neighbor until I was nine. She said I was “my little petunia in the onion patch”, and spoiled me a bit! She also taught me about wild flowers in the woods, and made delicious pancakes, just for me, with syrup in a blue Shirley Temple pitcher.
Flossie & her grandchildren
My Aunt Verna was a missionary to the migrant workers in Florida in the 1950’s and 60’s, so kind, with a gentle voice. She was my mom’s youngest and closest sister, and they lived together for the last 10 years of my mother’s life.
Aunt Anna, widowed quite young in life, kept the family farmhouse open for many years, a fine Christian woman, and my mother’s oldest sister. She could be a bit stern, but had a soft heart under it all. If ever anyone in our family was in need, physically or spiritually, her home was open to them. You could always count on a chicken dinner with vegetables from the garden every Sunday after church, served to whomever appeared at the table!
I never knew my grandmother, but she raised five very fine women.
Sisters Anna, Sarah, Evelyn, Jessie & Verna, at the farm
I am thankful to have had these strong women in my life, and it is a pleasure to remember them particularly today.
Now for something a little less serious. Those of you with sons will probably appreciate this.
Never having had boys, I can’t quite relate.
Please share your memories and stories about your mothers, grandmothers, and other women that you honor!
Stella's Place 
Happy Mother’s Day, Stella. Beautiful post!
Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms here and God bless! Hope your day is filled with love and family.
Proverbs 31:38 Her children rise up and call her blessed.
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Would that every child would “rise up and call her blessed”! Have a happy day.
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🙂
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Amen.
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Happy Mother’s Day Stella and to all our moms here.
Stella your writing is always such a pleasure to read and really draws me into the heart of your experiences growing up. Thank you for sharing a piece of your heart.
I don’t have sons but I loved the boy video.
Thank you to all of you women who raised your children with love and holiness, regardless of what detours their lives may take they are on a path that will eventually lead them to where their hearts began.
God, guts, guns and apple pie, keeping America, America!
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Happy Mother’s Day! I love the photo.
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I love these walks down memory lane, whether it’s about my mom or someone elses. Happy Mother’s Day!
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Thanks, Mike! I went through previous years’ Mother’s Day posts over at the Tree a couple of days ago, and really enjoyed your comments about your mom and your grandmothers. Walks down memory lane, for sure.
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Excellent post. Trough the words of your daughter I realize nothing is too inconsequential to teach a child. Happy Mother’s Day.
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Happy Mother’s Day! I just spoke with my daughter. She (the self-described “late bloomer”) has become amazingly successful, and is looking forward to her oldest son starting college in a couple of years. We talked a lot about what I did at that age, what she did at that age etc. Our histories are important to our present.
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P.S.: I think her words remind us that it isn’t money that makes a child happy. Happiness can be there in the everyday events of life.
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I always love the story about Stella’s mother and daughter, and the cut fruit. It’s such a special picture, a perfect representation of what a grandparent can teach a child by their actions.
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Happy Mothers’ Day, and too All of the Mothers’ who post here.
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Okay let’s try this again, Happy Mother’s Day Stella………
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Thank you Colonel! It’s nice to have you here with us.
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Whenever I remember Mother’s Day from my childhood, my first memory is always the carnation corsages. My mother never attended church with me until I was 13, but she would always buy me a pink corsage to wear, which symbolized that my mother was alive. She was always sad at the thought that her own corsage, if she had needed one, would have been white.
I believe I remember the grocery stores had the corsages back then, just special for Mother’s Day. Every lady in church always had a corsage. I found this article on the meaning of the colors, and why carnations have been associated with Mother’s Day.
According to the legend, it goes back to the passion of Christ, and Mary’s tears, which fell on the ground and became beautiful carnations.
http://www.theflowerexpert.com/content/giftflowers/flowersasgift/selecting-carnations-for-mothers-day
Happy Mother’s Day.
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Thank you for that! I had forgotten all about that, but we did that at our church when I was growing up. Yes, it was always bittersweet for my mom. I wonder if churches still do that.
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By the way, all three of my sons turned out like Yellow Tie guy. But they fought exactly like that. 😀
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How wonderful. I think we must have grown up in the same era. I had an Aunt Floss (Flora) and an Aunt Anna. My dad was Wilbur. Back when names had some bite to them!
My dear MIL passed in December. Made a big tray of baklava to remember her, and for my British mother, a jam sponge. I never had the blessing of children, but I am forever grateful to the women in America and the world who have raised their children up in the ways of the Lord.
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I hope you had a happy day. It sounds as if you have good memories of your own.
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I.Got.A.Metal.Chicken. 😀 😀 😀
It will cut you.
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