April 15, 2010

• {Moms are Timeless}

  
   
   
  Today my mom turns 60!

  I know she won’t mind me telling the world her age…
  she’s one of those women that just doesn’t care about that kind of stuff.
  She’s always embraced what life brings with grace and calm~
  though when she reads this she’ll laugh at the calm part.

  But I don’t think “calm” means acting like nothing ever ruffles your feathers..
  only knowing where to turn when those feather ruffling times come.

  That’s mom.

  

  She’s passionate.
  About God. About her family. Her beliefs.

  And she’s honest.
  Like really, truly honest~ about her own heart….
  What her struggles are and how obeying God isn’t always easy.
  She doesn’t feel the need to pretend to be something she’s not -
  or let the insecurity of “what will others think if I admit I don’t have it all together….”
  keep her from admitting she doesn’t have it all together.

  Which isn’t that the best kind of Christian after all?
  Not the kind that acts like they never falter or fail…
  but the kind that knows no matter how great a fault or failure – His grace is greater still.
  And that is the only thing that gets any of us through!

  I love that she’s made me know it’s okay to not be perfect. 

  

  She’s a great prayer warrior…
  like the kind that convicts me and I want to aspire to be!
  Often when I say, “Mom, will you pray about this?”
  Her answer – “I already have been..”

  Her intuition is amazing.
  And usually dead on.

  She has so much sensitivity to others and their feelings.
  And possesses such a deep ability to love despite a childhood of hurt and abuse.

  She’s a wonderful wife~
  not always liking my Dad’s vocation {pastor}…
  but standing by and supporting him through 38 years of ministry, regardless.
  Knowing that before she’s “Mrs. Pastor’s wife” she’s simply, “just his wife” –
  which is who she truly desires to be anyway.

       

  

     

  She’s an awesome cook. A talent I did not inherit.
  And an amazing teacher. Another talent I did not inherit. 

  I think her generosity stands out to me the most~
  I’ve never known anyone so giving.

  Whenever I need her- she’s there. {HUGE period after. and no exceptions.}
  Despite having an incurable disease herself and not feeling well most days…
  she’s still the strongest of our family. in so many ways!

  She’s an amazing note writer~
  I have dozens of cards and scraps of paper where she’s communicated words of encouragement and love.

  

  We have a pretty tight mother-daughter relationship…
  but believe me, we have our moments.

  We’re very alike and can drive each other nuts at times.
  She’s hot headed. Which IS something I inherited.
  We can argue like all get out and hurt each others feelings.

  It’s not always straight out of the “Little Women” storybook for us..
  but we’re quick to make things right- usually within the same conversation.  
  And no matter what, there remains a closeness.
  a genuine closeness. and depth to what we have.

  Which I honestly feel the most REAL kind of relationships are the ones that have a bit of conflict from time to time~
  it’s only human. inevitable. a part of life. it’s gonna happen. we’re fleshly people.

  But when there’s unconditional acceptance -
  there’s a FREEDOM to talk things through and deal with issues.
  Not just ignoring them or pretending they don’t exist.
  And that kind of freedom brings a whole new level of understanding and trust to a relationship.
  Sure there’s times we might agree to disagree.. but it doesn’t hinder or cause a cloud over us being real with each other. 

  I’m so thankful for that.
   
  I joke sometimes about how that every relationship needs a good fight every now and then to clear the air and get rid of any superficial junk.
  {but don’t take me up on that one for awhile.. hormones make me a tad extra sensitive these days!!}

  I remember people saying you never truly appreciate your mom until you are one yourself.
  I think that’s true.

  

  I feel like the older I get the more I get my mom.

  And I become more and more acutely aware of the gift I’ve been given.
  The heritage laid out before me…
  and the blessing of a wonderful example and pattern to follow.

  It’s funny though~
  I can see the physical changes in mom through the years.
  The few gray hairs popping out…
  {which I think I gave every one to her in the first half of this pregnancy she was so worried about me}

  But in many ways she just. seems. timeless. ~

  How she is now is how she’s always been…
  to me, anyway.
  I think back and can’t remember a time she wasn’t there…
  and it feels like she forever will be.

  Yes. I think our mother’s are so intertwined with our own hearts in a way beyond what we can truly express -
  that even when we’re separated.. whether by miles or physically by death.. still. they penetrate so much of who we are.

  no matter what..
  they’re part of us.
  simply timeless.
  in their own unique way.

  Happy Birthday Mom. I’m so grateful for your life~

  

  And in honor of my mom’s birthday why don’t you call up your own and let her know what she means to you….
  or go hug your kiddos tight and just communicate what only a mother’s hug can communicate.

  Let’s celebrate the women in our lives that make it that much more beautiful~ !!!

  

  with love,

  amber.
  

  • 3:53 pm
  • 42 Comments