Once again it’s Mother’s Day, a time to honor and love on our mothers with a little extra pizazz. For some of us this is also a day we miss our mamas (a little more than usual.)
It’s not easy being motherless on Mother’s Day when our mothers have gone on to Heaven.
Last week a new-ish colleague in my sister’s office in Wilmington (NC) announced, “Cindy is going to visit her mom this weekend.”
Another colleague piped up, “That will be a very long trip!”
As long and far away as Heaven seems, the memories and legacy of my precious Mama’s life are instantly close filling my heart and with her love, hope and joy. Last year I shared a letter written to Mama @ her Heavenly address (you can read it by clicking here: A Letter to Mama on Mother’s Day.)
This year to honor Mama here’s a poem I wrote for Mother’s Day years ago while working overseas. I sent it to my sister who printed it out & put it in a frame as a giftie for the actual day. Several folks requested a copy after I shared it @ Mama’s Memorial Celebration service (under sibling pressure that we all share something) so here it is again today.
The Woodward Family (a long time ago!)
The Mystery of Magnificent Motherhood
On Mother’s Day we celebrate the mystery of Motherhood. From the outside, Motherhood doesn’t seem all that mysterious but just simply mastering of responsibilities and physical tasks. Responsibilities that include raising children to know right and wrong, not to hurt themselves, to study, and to grow from turbulent twos through the terrifying teens into functioning adults. Physical tasks involve delivering babies (washing them, carrying them, helping them walk) cooking, cleaning…
These, admittedly, amount to a great deal of work.
Magnificent Motherhood, however, is a mystery that involves more than just responsibilities and tasks. To understand this mystery, special qualities are required:
Magnificent Motherhood is SACRIFICE.
Selflessly sacrificing (all the time) & the last piece of chocolate cake.
Magnificent Motherhood is JOY.
Joy even when illness strikes, the pots overflow, & we act unruly.
Magnificent Motherhood is BEAUTY.
Beauty seen in us (even with pimples) & nurtured in our surroundings.
Magnificent Motherhood is GENEROSITY.
Generously sharing special gifts, checks, and Mr. Madison’s fudge.
Magnificent Motherhood is MUSIC.
Music composed in a heart overflowing with the joy of Jesus.
Magnificent Motherhood is ACTION.
Hugging us, holding our hands, and helping us through each crisis.
Magnificent Motherhood is PRAYER.
Unceasing prayer – faithful communion with God (often on our behalf.)
Magnificent Motherhood is FAITHFULNESS.
Faithfulness to God (1st) and 58 years (!) with the Fabulous Fossil (our Papa!)
Magnificent Motherhood is LOVE.
Love shared from an inner spring that never diminishes…
It’s actually very simple.
The Mystery of Magnificent Motherhood is
MY MOTHER,
Virginia Francis Johnson Woodward
With love & appreciation from her daughter,
Virginia : )
p.s. As many of you know, my precious Mama loved chocolate (where my chocoholic genes come from?) Wish I could bake a big chocolate cake for her, but here’s a memory of sharing one of our favorite chocolate desserts – Carrabba’s Sogno di Cioccolata.
A daunting chocolate challenge…
Not too much for MY Mama!
Scattering seeds of hope (possible @ sunset of our lives, too!)
