My mom reminded me today that things could have been very different as a mother, both her sons having life threatening illnesses years ago. The fact we survived both miraculous in every way. My brother having just returned from a backpacking trip should not have made it through without a heart attack. Feeling quite normal, he saw no need to schedule a routine heart check before the trip. After his return, and immediately following the check, a 6 bypass surgery was required, the surgeon amazed that he did not perish on the backpacking trip! Finding myself struggling on some tune-up backpacking trips, preparing to go with my son and scouts to Philmont, and seemingly having a bout of pneumonia as the trip approached, Carrie suggested I go to Urgent Care, only to be immediately hospitalized. My heart function was at 17% due to a viral attack enlarging it...often fatal at such point. Indeed, my mom has been through a lot, including the past months, where my dad nearly died on the operating table while surgeons dealt with his pancreatic cancer.
Through all of this struggle, our family has developed significant depth of love and investment in one another's lives. In adversity and in joys, our family chooses to be together. It is hard, but it is right. It can be uncomfortable at times, but it is good.
My parents have taught me that family is primary. My mom has sacrificed and quietly served us, her sons in countless ways. We learned that family together is good, and even with all the quirks and differences we have as members of this family, we can still gather, having a great time as we share our lives together.
On my Facebook page, I wrote the following :
"Tuesday night, Rick
and I were sitting together with mom and dad at their dinner table;
just us four. My mind remembered the decades of times we sat as a
family eating together while growing up...just us four. I am filled
with gratitude that God gave us our mom and dad.
We have gone
through so much together, as a family. I am so thankful for a great
and wonderful brother. My dad, now a miracle and answer to prayer, we
get to go together to hear the pathology results...just us four. We
continue standing together, a family, through thick and thin, struggle
and triumph...just us four with God. "
Today, we celebrate and honor moms. Today, my mom is thankful just to have her boys around, appreciative of what we have endured together in the past months and years, and indeed, I am thankful that I get another year to honor my mom and celebrate our family! And, after speaking with my mom, understand and am reminded that she loves this day not because we choose to honor her, but because we walk and live as her sons who bring her strength in struggle and laughter in triumphs.
Me? I am thankful to have a mother who led the way, showing us how to honor and invest in family. A mom who sacrificed much for us, instructing, through her living, how to sacrifice much for our kids. I am thankful, also for a wife who, as mother to my kids, did the same..and it continues in our sons, one, choosing a wonderful wife and mother who is doing the same in our grandson.
Thank you to all you mothers who have sacrificed much to be a wonderful mom.
