“The only mothers it is safe to forget on Mother’s Day are the good ones.”
~
Ha! Isn’t that the truth? Jeff and I are so blessed to both have “good ones” in the mom department, but isn’t it true in all areas that there are those in your life who are “safe” to forget and those who are not? For those who are not, there is an understood expectation in that relationship that you better do xyz on such-and-such day or so-and-so will be sorely disappointed. And then how do you wind up feeling?
Exhausted.
Oh my. I always want to be a person who is “safe to forget”!
Last night I sat in the old cream rocking chair in the kids’ room. Both kids had asked to be rocked, and yes! was my answer to both. So they filled up my lap, spilling over, arms wrapped around each other and faces nuzzled into my neck. I rocked, kissing the tops of their heads, unable to speak, not wanting to move, knowing this moment would last only moments. I closed my eyes and knew:
These are my Mother’s Day gifts.
The term “mother’s day gift” is redundant. Who needs a gift when one is a mother?
The gifts are already given.
They have pulses and eyelashes and puppy-dog breath. They are exhilarating and exhausting and infuriating and intoxicating. They are gifts. It’s wonderful if one of them gives you a gift tomorrow, but the gift has already been given.
That’s what makes us “safe to forget.”
Some of us, myself at times, forget that a zillion beautiful gifts have already been given. When we forget, we expect everyone else to give them to us. We might not expect a gift wrapped in paper or bow, but we expect a creative day or a special surprise or just the right words or someone to read our minds and give us what we want and do not say. And then at the end of the day you know how we feel?
Exhausted. (And so does everyone else.)
What if, instead, we realized each day that the gifts are already given. On mother’s day we have the gifts we hold upon our laps (or used to!). On a birthday we have the gift of LIFE, of breath, of being born and still being alive. On an anniversary we have a marriage–aglorious picture of divine love–no matter how imperfect it is. On Christmas we have God with us!! Who needs anything else? On Valentine’s Day we have the Lover of our Souls. On Easter we have a risen Lord.
Every holiday celebrates a gift that is already given.
And if we spent our precious time celebrating these already-gifts, I wonder what the result might be …
We might become safe to forget.
We might even forget about ourselves.
Oh blessed state, there is no joy like that.
{Happy Mother’s Day. Thanks for reading.}
17 thoughts on “How to have the best Mother's Day…”
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Thanks … again … Kari. I forwarded your blog to my mother, my wife, my mother-in-law, and my three daughters … who are all moms and are the best ones I know and who are classified among those who are safe to forget.
🙂 Love it. Yes, I would imagine all the “moms” in your life–even the ones you raised–are all pretty “safe” and wonderful. Love you so much. Give your wifey a squeeze for me today! -K
Love this, Kari! I think that I am safe to forget and I love it that way! I have been blessed a million times over with my little ones…they are the gift that keeps giving!
Oh I am sure you are good and safe, Meliss! You are the most generous, life-giving, joyful Mama… I need more time with you so you can rub off more on me! Thanks for your kindness. Love you, friend.
I pray you know I am safe to forget. The best presents I can imagine are my sons and daughters (you three) and grandkidlets. God has showered me with blessings. It is far more fulfilling to enjoy the beauty of you and your families than to concentrate on myself. And that awareness comes from our great and glorious God.
Yes, you are! SO grateful to have you here this weekend. Thank you for ALL your help in the midst of our chaos! xoxo
Happy Mothers Day to you beautiful one. Yes, I do hope I am considered one safe to forget. My son Graeme is an amazing man whose love is always enough. No special day is required for me to know his love for me. That I should know him and have him in my life is enough. Pure gift.
Mmm…smile on my face! Love this, Debra. And I love you!
Thanks Kari, I love your blogs, I feel honored that Paul used your blog to include me in his expression of love on Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day to you.
Aww…yes, that family of yours is truly something tremendous. Love you so much, Jeannie! So fun to see your name on here…xoxox
Amen, amen! I think this one might be a learning-over-time one for me…but I’m getting there.
{ Although the Chipotle-after-church-run my husband and I agreed on for today? I have a feeling nobody in my house is forgetting that one 😉 }
Happy Mother’s Day, Kari.
Ooh! Chipotle-after-church! Yes, please! I might ditch the big ham-dinner I’m throwing together and take myself to Chipotle instead! 🙂 Bless you, girl. Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mothers’ Day, Kari! I totally agree with this … the extra snuggles and hugs I’ve received from my guys is such a gift, and it stresses ME out to think of any of them thinking of a “gift” to give me. So, I begged them not to! 🙂
I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day Lacey! I heard Kaden was dedicated–what a wonderful day! Love you friend.
I loved this! Sometimes when I read your blog I feel like I’m reading my own thoughts! My heart is so full tonight from delighting in the ‘gifts’ that my kiddos are to me and the JOY that they bring to my life! It is such a good reminder of how sin and selfishness can steal that joy and make us focus only on us and what we think we need.
So so encouraging and so thankful to know that other women are on this amazing journey as well! Hope you had a very happy mother’s day today!! 🙂
Aw, thank you dear kindred-spirit girl! SO glad you had a great day…my two Littles are in bed with me as I type this, coloring pictures. Such sweet times together! Bless you, Chris.