"My son . . . Honor
your mother, and do not abandon her as long as she lives. Do whatever pleases
her, and do not grieve her spirit in any way. Remember, my son, that she
went through many trials for your sake while you were in her womb." (Tob.
4:3)
Thanks, Mom . . .
- for those nine months carrying me-- I'm guessing it wasn't easy.
- for ensuring that I was baptized, made my first (and second, and third . . .) reconciliation, received my first Eucharist, and was confirmed.
- for being my biggest cheerleader and fan, even when I kicked the ball the wrong way down the field.
- for dressing me in that hideous white blazer and red turtleneck one Christmas. (I had to learn humility somehow.)
- for getting me to Mass 15 minutes early each week so that I could be an altar server.
- for sending me to Catholic school for 12 years.
- for telling me that if I got in trouble at school, I was in worse trouble when I got home.
- for following through on that threat once. (Once was enough.)
- for not being afraid to use a ruler, wooden spoon, ping pong paddle, belt (or just about anything else handy) when I started getting out of line.
- for teaching me how to pray.
- for showing me how to begin and end my day with prayer.
- for praying for me constantly-- not just before bed or each morning.
- for sewing patches into the knees of my corduroy uniform pants.
- for making me learn to cook, iron, clean, change diapers, babysit, and braid hair.
- for making me write, "I will not lie to my parents" 5,000 times. (My hand still cramps when I hold a pencil.)
- for being a museum curator who could find a spot on the fridge for every drawing, no matter how bad.
- for teaching me to respect women by demanding respect for yourself and my sisters.
- for being a mediator/referee/judge-- whichever my brothers and sisters and I happened to need at the moment.
- for doing laundry-- LOTS of laundry.
- for being an excellent cook. (Except for that one casserole . . . you know which one I mean.)
- for leaving notes on my pillow each night to check in with me, especially when I didn't feel like talking.
- for always having a couple extra dollars in your purse each day.
- for never getting upset when you noticed those couple extra dollars were missing.
- for teaching me to put the toilet seat down when finished.
- for telling me that you'd be happy with whatever career I chose, even a garbage man, as long as I was the best garbage man I could be.
- for demanding that, no matter how late I was out Saturday night, I was at Mass Sunday morning.
- for loving my dad in a soul-encompassing, once-in-a-lifetime way-- I hope to love my spouse the same way.
- for loving my children even more than you love me. (C'mon, it's obvious . . . you let them get away with stuff I could never get away with.)
- for showing me, in your own way, the love my heavenly mother has for me.
- for doing it all without ever receiving a paycheck, an award, or even the occasional "Thank You" from your kids.
. . . for loving me.
Friends, I look forward
to hearing the many things about your mothers for which you're thankful. Please feel
free to add them in the comments. Happy Mother’s Day!
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