Published: May 07, 2008 10:20 am         

Sharing thoughts on Mother’s Day

Mt. Olive Senior News by Dixie Kuykendall

The North Jefferson News



As Mother’s Day approaches I’m looking forward to celebrating with my own children and grandchildren.

My daughter was born on Mother’s Day and it was certainly the best gift I ever received. My thoughts are now about my mother and how I miss her so much. It makes my think about the brevity of life and the temporary nature of all relationships. It makes me want to hug life tighter.

I don’t know the author of the following. I found it tucked away in my mother’s bible and I think it is so appropriate for Mother’s Day.



Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.

“Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said; “Yes and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.”

So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we would not have done it without you.” And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage. Today I have given them strength.”

And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: “Look up. Lift your eyes to the light.” And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, “This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent but her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill and beyond they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.” And the children said, you will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said; “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”

Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks, and the cool hand on your brow when you’re not well.

Your mother lives inside your laughter, and is crystallized in every tear drop. She’s the place you came from, your first home and the map you follow with every step you take and nothing on earth can separate you — not time, space or even death.



Senate tensions high

Hardly anything of interest to seniors was accomplished by the legislature this past week.

A potential constitutional amendment to remove sales tax on food, eliminating deductions for federal taxes and revising standard deductions and personal exemptions, was read the second time by the Senate Finance Committee. It was passed by the House and awaits final legislative approval by the Senate.

Dixie Kuykendall writes a weekly column on Mt. Olive seniors. She can be reached at 631-0049 or at dixiek@bellsouth.net.