Momma's boy.
Had I been raised as a resident of an 80s movie, it's likely that epithet would have been thrown my way many times, on occasion accompanied by a swirly and epilogued with a "Later, dude." Fortunately, the times of my youth were neither as bully-rich nor as bodacious as those captured on neon-soaked celluloid, and my close relationship with my mom went largely uncommented upon by my peers. Thank goodness, because middle-school-me had plenty of hair issues even without it getting partially flushed.
Tangent aside, it's an undeniable fact that I've always had a close friendship with my mom, a friendship for which I have expressed far too little gratitude. Thus, on this Day of Mother’s celebrated nationwide (at least by those who haven’t abandoned it as yet another “Hallmark Holiday” to check on the seculo-liturgical calendar), I thought it fitting to share some of the many lessons passed on to me by my mom—and in so doing to express my deepest thanks for her impact on my life.
1. In baking, even the smallest details are important, but that doesn’t mean it’s a disaster when things go wrong. The same is remarkably true of life.
2. If you’re going to move something that’s in the way, you might as well just put it where it belongs. And you also might as well dust or clean where it was.
3. Leave things better than you found them.
4. Different is not the same as weird.
5. You should probably wash produce before you eat it, because dirt doesn’t taste as good as strawberries.
6. Time spent with another person is valuable, even if you’re doing something mundane (or nothing at all).
7. Never be afraid to ask a question, but don’t expect someone to give you the answer. You might have to figure it out for yourself.
8. Lying is a dumb habit to develop and an impossible habit to keep up. Especially because mom can always tell when you’re lying.
9. The past was neither as terrible nor as wonderful as you sometimes remember it. It was mostly just different than the present.
10. Gifts are nice, but the people who give them are much more important.
11. Never hesitate to show someone that you love them, especially when that person is family.
12. The most difficult thing to ask for—and the most important thing to give someone—is forgiveness.
13. You are loved.
There are many things I wish that I could give to the whole world. But few rank higher on the list than my wish that every human being could know the love of a mother as compassionate, knowledgeable, strong, committed, patient, caring, serving, funny (she learned from her kids), humble, godly, and—ultimately—loving as mine. I can’t imagine a world without her influence, save that it would include a much less desirable version of myself in it. And I also can’t imagine what she’s had to sacrifice to be able to give so much to everyone else, family and friends alike. All I can say is thank you, though that seems far too insignificant for what she’s given.
But thank you, mom.
I’m so incredibly proud to be your momma’s boy.