A Mother's gift

​God could not be everywhere, so he created mothers.
-- Jewish Proverb
 
The person who was most influential in the person I became was my mother.
I was also blessed having my grandmother’s unconditional love. She too always brought out the best in me. Reflecting on those days I fully realize the many challenges I presented to both. My mother worked with my dad in their corner grocery store, so my grandmother certainly had her fair share of parenting me.
 
Growing up I was a curious, ambitious and mischievous kid. At my present age I am blessed that I still have a full head of hair to cover my scalp. Without it I would look like a war veteran with the many scars for childhood incidences. As many of you will remember, childhoods were spent on quite a different kind of “play” some 50 to 70 years ago. There was no television, no electronic games. Most playtime was spent in outdoor activities in front yards, back yards, and neighbors’ yards. I loved being Tarzan and swinging from a rope until the rope broke. I landed on a shovel and split the back of my head wide open.
 
 I was also never satisfied with the limited space of my own backyard or my Grandmother’s, so I’d climb the fences to satisfy my curiosity. Once again, I landed in the emergency room to get stitches in my head. I’m sure many of you had similar experiences. However, I don’t remember ever being yelled at or even spoken to harshly. I’m not sure if that was a good thing or not! That may have been because I was the first child and ended up being an only child.
 
As a pre-teen I wanted to earn money by selling Christmas cards. My mother insisted my dad drive me to our relatives’ homes so I could sell them these special cards that I would have engraved with their names on the inside. Then again when I was 17 I encouraged my mother to talk to my dad about signing a loan for me to purchase a lot so that one day I could have a house built on it. I feel like I must mention here that my Dad was a very quiet, laid back sort of guy. My mother’s persuasion skills were amazing; she could always convince my dad to support me in my goals and ambitions. She never once tried to dampen my spirits. Her belief in me and my dreams never faltered.
 
My mother passed thirteen years ago but I still experience the impact of the love, encouragement and support she gave to me. And in an indirect way, she has had an impact of so many others. Many people have said they share my blog postings with their family and friends because it offers positive possibilities in living a life of abundance.
 
Whenever I refuse to see my glass half empty but as an opportunity to get a refill my wife will say “I don’t know what your mother did in raising you, but she did something right!” That brings a smile to my face!
 
“Well Mom you deserve the honor of your special day and I feel certain must know your part in the messages of hope and positive possibilities going out to the world. Happy Mother’s Day to my mom and to the mother of our children!