What to say about my mother. I am not sure if you know this but she is the best mom ever. No really, the best! I would choose her hands down every time. I feel like I want to express something that hasn't been said before but it feels like everyone knows the big stuff.
- But maybe, you don't know this:
Being on a mission has humbled her, humbled beyond what I thought possible. It has smoothed out the sharp edges, her need for perfection is all but gone, and she has grown into a new person, one who is so touched and in tune with all the love and potential around her, she has been opened up like a flower receiving all that rains (some times literally) down on her with an open heart and gratitude. She is a star glowing to everyone around her, a comfortable place to land, a heart to listen, a mom to many without a mother near; either because of their missions or their life choices. She is in a word "love"to all.
When I was in Brighton during Christmas the Elders and Sisters came by the flat after church on the Sunday just after the holiday. Some missionaries new, some short timers with weeks left to go before their release. They were excited about coming over with a present for my parents.
Now - Prior to going on a mission - here is the deal and it may seem like I am outing her a little - but my mother has liked/not loved - liked - a grand total of maybe 5 gifts that have been given to her over the last 40 years. Loved is something that is almost impossible to attain. She is by far the hardest person ever to give a present to if you are invested in her real feelings about the gift. Her reaction will be lovely but the people who truly know her, will know immediately how she feels about her gift. Both Kennedy and I suffer from this same problem. Emily somehow did not inherit this but, Emily will almost do anything rather than open gifts in front of people - to avoid the pressure of hurting their feelings or seeming insincere.
With bated anticipation the missionaries handed the hand wrapped present over to my mother to open. You could see the excitement in their eyes, they were very invested in this gift, they had considered, planned and executed a giant offering. Especially when you consider that these missionaries live on a measly 120.00 English Pounds a month, roughly $225.00 -U.S. for everything, food, clothes, toiletries, everything!
My mother unwrapped the gift, tears come to my eyes when I think of this moment, inside the wrapping was a white ceramic bowl, maybe the size of a cereal bowl. Painted on the outside of the bowl in the most childlike fashion were small pictures that represented each of the missionaries. There was a maple leaf for our Canadian missionary, an Elder so poor he had holes in his winter coat, a dark grey women's coat that had most certainly been left behind by another missionary going home to a more tropical location. There were other designs from the Sister Missionary's that allude me now, but one represented Texas and the other Utah. The last was from a missionary who was in serious need of parents, his testimony as deep as the ocean, his passion for the work evident with every word, with a broken heart as his parents had recently divorced, he was from San Diego represented by a stick figure surfing a giant ceramic cereal bowl wave. They had in effect given my mother, my parents their hearts!
My hard to please, difficult, perfect, wonderful mother looked upon the bowl with authentic instantaneous love and heartfelt gratitude! You would have thought someone had just given her the Holy Grail. This was, in that moment, the best gift anyone had ever given her. She was thrilled and joyful, and could not wait to throw her arms around each of the missionaries to offer them her most sincere appreciation and love! The Elders and Sisters were given a tremendous gift as well. For that evening their gift was received, their gift was appreciated, their hearts were enough, they were enough!! And believe me, with the amount of rejection those kids go through every single day, this was like water in the desert!
So this is my tribute to my mother on her birthday this year. A witness of sorts. A witness of personal growth, and the knowledge that my mother does nothing but get better each and every year of her amazing service filled life. I aspire to be just like her when I grow up!
I love you mom. I hope your day and year is filled with nothing but great news, growth in your work, friendships that last forever, and love as big as love is!!!
XOXO - Jenn
Sent from my iPad
