Sometimes I really miss my mother. Even though I am over 50 years old and lost my mother 17 years ago, there are still times when I want to pick up the phone, or better still, go over to her house, scrunch up next to her on the sofa, and lay my head on her shoulder. In the years that she’s been gone I have felt that way many times, particularly during times of extreme stress or anguish, sorrow, grief or other life difficulties. And, sometimes I would be so happy to hear her laugh like she did when she got really tickled about things. Yeah, that would be nice. I’ve been thinking about my mother because I’ve been spending time with two of my sisters over the past couple of days. In some ways, each of my siblings embodies many of the qualities that both my parents possessed, and spending time with my sisters highlighted not only the ways they are like her, but also the ways they’ve magnified these gifts beyond what she possessed. They are each truly remarkable in their own right. When I look at each of them, I see both my parents…and, I see myself.
I am grateful once again for the strength and resilience I see in my siblings and experience in my own life. This past weekend I watched firsthand both the struggles and the joys my sisters encounter as they walk in the world. I see their love and concern for their children, the heart-wrenching decisions they have to make about when to step in and when to let go. Watching them gives me understanding and wisdom about how I approach various situation and issues with my children and I am able to share back with them things I have learned from my experiences raising my kids. We learn and grow, adapt and change, fall down and get back up. And we are each doing the very best we can at any given moment.
I am grateful for the examples and modeling set by my siblings–the things I learn from watching and listening to them–and I am grateful for having wisdom to share with them as well. Having lost both our parents, it’s very comforting to still have a whole group of people (I’m so grateful to have five siblings) who love me and each other and are committed to helping and supporting one another come what may. I have been both beneficiary and benefactor at any given time and am grateful to have been in both roles (though being in a position to serve as a benefactor is a lot more fun…)
Tonight as I prepare to take my rest and prepare for an important series of meetings I have here tomorrow (Monday) morning, I know I am being held by the prayers and well wishes of my siblings and friends around the country. They know where I’ve been, what I’ve been through and where I come from. They are solidly “in my corner.” In the scheme of things, it simply doesn’t get any better than that.
