Mother's day 2014

[Stan]

This mothers day, let's give support and prayers for all the moms who have lost a children, and esp those who have lost their only child. Even so, come Lord Jesus come.

AND tell us the story of YOUR MOTHER!

[Gail]

Okay, I'll bite!

I hope that this isn't lengthy, but mine is not a typical story. But it is one that glorifies God's name. So here goes.

My mother for the most part rejected me. My earliest memories are that of always being yelled at and being sent outside. I did not learn how to take care of a home or share experiences with my mom baking cookies. Instead I wandered the streets, lonely, of East Vancouver. She told me how happy she was when she could finally send me to school at age 4.

I remember wondering what on earth I did to make her so angry. But I also realised early on that a kid so young couldn't do anything to merit such anger. I also could not understand her hatred toward all men. Bringing home a male playmate was something to be vocally shamed and humiliated for. I had no clue what I did wrong.

I did not learn until years later, in fact, after her death, that she had had a relationship which went sour. There was talk about a child she gave up, never having married the fellow. This explained to us her bitterness that caused her not to be able to love her nextborn.

[Gail]

Here is what happens when God intervenes (the good news):

As many of you know, as I grew up I drifted, not having a clue about how to live, basically. Later on I was to have my own family and we struggled.

When I came to the time when I decided to treat myself to some therapy, I wrote out an autobiography and thought a lot about my childhood. I decided to address my distant relationship with my mom.

I wrote her a letter and instead of bringing up those events in accusation, I simply asked her forgiveness for the times I had failed her (my drug use, etc) I have no idea what thoughts came to her mind when I did that. But in a phone call soon after I had mailed the letter, she simply said, I love you. That was it.

But that was HUGE. In my heart, when I sent the letter, I decided to forgive her for all those memories. She never apologised nor brought up the subject, but that was typical for her. The Ukrainian peasant family that she was raised in suffered in silence and so did she. Knowing this, I decided to forgive her anyways. At that point God lifted a heavy weight on my own heart and I was able to go about the business of loving her.

So we were reconciled. And I am sorry that we were only able to have a very few very good years together before she died of cancer in 2002, I was happy to see some joy in her.

Mom was raised Greek Orthodox and was happy at my baptism. I hope to meet a joyous, healed mother in the Resurrection. That would cause me to crumple in joy like nothing else. :)

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

my mom is still independent and active...she'll be 89 this year..

I know parents always say they don't favor one child over the other, but I honestly think they do. My mom favored my brother, and my dad favored me. That was okay! My brother and I were loved equally!

Mom taught me how to cook and sew and quilt and all the other things she had been taught by *her* mother and grandmothers, that were important for girls to know. (whereas my dad taught me all the camping and outdoor knowledge)

Mom (and her 6 siblings) all had a wacky sense of humor, so I come by that honestly. She's lots of fun to be with.... loves flowers and chocolate-covered raisins. She HATES maraschino cherries (which I love)!!! lol

Here's a photo of my mom (right) and her oldest sister (left). My grandparents had a cottage in Michigan where the photo was taken ca 1941:

[Gail]

Awesome!

[phkrause]

Those were great posts, Pam and Gail. Praise the Lord. My Mom will also be 89 this year, and is very independent. She spent the most time with my brother and me. My father was up at 3/3:30 and came home around 3/4 in the afternoon and would go to bed pretty early to do it all over again each day, except for Sabbath or Sunday. I never notice wish one of us she liked more, it seemed pretty much even. Found out years later that she had lost a child between the two of us. I would love to spend Mother's day with her but right now we have to be up here, taking care of our grandchildren. So hopefully next year we will be able to be with her, Lord willing.

[Naomi]

Memories of my mother: It was difficult to be my mother's daughter, not that she was mean. She was very attractive, sang in a band when she was young, Could play any musical instrument that she picked up.

Those who knew her all of her life always said "Your mother was the finest lady in the area" Now today that makes me feel proud, as a young girl it only made me feel insecure ... especially when they would talk about what a beautiful lady she was and how much I looked like my daddy.

When my cousin and I compare our mothers we agree that it is very hard to be daughters of beautiful saints.

I always tried to live up to mother's standards and always fell short. Yet, there was never any doubt that she loved me. Gail mentioned the Ukrainian mentality ... well I had the opportunity to experience the same.

Mother lived a full, independent life. As she was approaching the century mark she still was mentally sharp, particular about her appearance and a good pianist. Her hair had to be professionally fixed each week and her nails manicured. Mother drove her car until she drove into the grocery store at 96 (She converted it to a drive-in grocery)I took her car keys ... she had several sets hidden around the house and from what I was told, continued to take her little dog for a ride every morning;she lived alone, cooked and maintained a very clean neat home until the last year of her life. Mother worked very hard. They sold their 200 cow dairy when she was 83 and she milked the cows twice a day, every day until the day of the sale. They cried when the cows were gone.

Her prayer life was the thing prayer coordinators speak of. Mother's answered prayers are amazing. When she went to her final sleep close to 300 people were in attendance at her service and approx 200 flowers (even though we requested not). She taught my children the value of prayer. After the services my daughter-in-law told me that as she and my son was leaving the cemetery Ken said, "Now that grandma is gone who is going to pray for me?" She said, "I know your mother prays for you every day" he responded, "That is not grandma's prayers"

Mother controlled me by guilt and it still works. I miss her very much and selfishly the most on my birthday. Every morning mother and daddy would call me very early on my birthday to wish me Happy birthday and to tell me the complete details of my birth (at home on the farm) right down to the color of my layette, how I held my arms, etc. when they first saw me. Now that they are gone there is no one to bore me with the sweet story of what a beautiful baby I was.