Bandage and an open heart
Today, mothers like me thank all of you for giving us a special day like Mother’s Day. It’s like Christmas Day for all of us – gifts, treats and family get-togethers.
But I want us mothers to acknowledge and pat ourselves on the back for surviving the gargantuan task of running the household and raising children. I would love to put my arms around all of you so I took time to dig some words of encouragement from famous people so I can encourage all of you (and me).
“All that I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother.” – Abraham Lincoln, 16th US President
“A kiss from my mother made me a painter.”- Benjamin West who, at 28, became the most popular painter in London
“Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.” – Lin Yutang, Chinese writer and inventor
“No one in the world can take the place of your mother. Right or wrong, from her viewpoint you are always right. She may scold you for little things, but never for the big ones.”- Harry Truman, 33rd US President
“The future destiny of a child is always the work of the mother.” – Napoleon Bonaparte, Emperor of France
But let me tell you that the best passage to tell the story of motherhood is in Chapter 31 of the Book of Proverbs of the Holy Bible. Before this day ends, please read this chapter and be uplifted and guided how to become the women that God expects us to be. King Lemuel’s mother details here that the ideal and virtuous woman is the mother, the wife and household custodian.
But despite the honor and accolades, we mothers can’t help but be emotional, especially during a special occasion like Mother’s Day, when we think back to that time when we first realized that we were going to be moms. Life after that has been a constant roller coaster of emotions. If mothers were not made of stronger stuff, we would have long broken down like a car without water supply and overheating with emotions.
A mother dreams big for her children, but once they grow up and live their own independent lifves, she struggles to let them go.
It is not uncommon for her to try to fix things and run to the rescue of her children, forgetting they are now adults.
It’s been more than six years since my two sons left for college in Manila. They are still there for work and still come home once in a while. Yet, I still feel I want to be involved in what they’re doing there. But that’s not being realistic anymore.
When they were small, they automatically ran to me after the slightest scratch on their knee. I still expect them to call me but I must accept they can’t do that anymore. Not that they don’t care. They have become independent adults and that we must understand. Yet, the mother in us yearns to hang.
Last week, my son EJ didn’t tell me he had the flu. Thank God for Facebook, where I learned he was sick in bed. The mobile phone became my side-kick in giving him a litany of to-do’s to get well.
When my other son Renwick lost his wallet to a pickpocketeer months back, I was happy he called me but even if I started scolding him, I ended up calling numbers for him and directing him where to go.
My daughter Nica is already a working woman, but I can’t help but barrage her with advice on how to check her payslip and her work hours, what to tell her boss about her day-offs and what to do with her time. It’s just hard to let go.
But I know mothers must. We should just be like the wind. You can’t see it but you can feel it.
Mothers, we can’t fix everything in our children’s life. We always want to stop a bleeding, but it’s sometimes better to simply put the bandage down and let them deal with the wound themselves.
Sometimes, it’s best to stop always holding their hand. We should be able to tell them that they don’t need the crutches; that they have to try to walk. Actress Jane Seymour shared in a morning talk the best advice her mother gave her. She calls it “Open Heart”.
She said we must always open our heart for others; to love openly and unconditionally our children, no matter what they are or have become. An open heart allows them to commit mistakes and learn from it. If we close our hearts, we get sucked up and we can burst inside with emotions.
See how life is a roller coaster of emotions for mothers? Well, there’s good news. Mothers have a special place in God’s heart. Didn’t Jesus tell His beloved disciple John to take care of His Mother when He was dying on the cross?
Writer Daniel Rodgers wrote more about this good news for mothers.
One, God remembers our efforts even when we feel our children forget us. Second, God forgives our failures (that’s why we need to have an open heart). And third, God shares our burdens. So remember to drop the bandage sometimes. God is still in control to stop any bleeding.
Let’s enjoy today. Treat ourselves for once. And thank God for making us mothers.
