V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute
It was Mother’s Day last Sunday. And for me it was one that hasn’t felt the same in over a decade— and it never will again.
One’s mother is someone special – unique even – and once their gone, it’s never the same.
Mother’s are both a blessing and a special kind of curse. They love you unconditionally – no matter what you do, how much you accomplish, how many times you fail, or how much you disappoint them – they always love you.
Come August, my mother will have been gone 11 years. But she touched a lot of people besides me. I still hear friends say “I miss your mom. She was always so nice. I remember she used to …”
She wasn’t – but that’s not what’s important.
What’s important is she was mom.
You loved her. You hated her. You loved her even more.
When they’re gone there’s a void in your life. If you’re lucky, there’s at least one person who comes along and fills a part of that void. They become “mom.” They tell you what you need to hear – whether you like it or not. They become a person you admire and respect and go to when you just need a hug from mom. They don’t ask questions. They simply care. Thankfully, I’ve had a lot of “moms” over the years.
My mother was 40 when I was born so she was both a mother to me and a grandmother like figure to the kids around me. I didn’t grow up with grandparents so I missed that experience. But the people around my folks were also older, and being an only child, I had lots of “grandparents” around me.
By the time mom was gone, so were most of them, but I was surrounded by a number of people who quickly stepped in and became “mom”. Most of them I’ve now lost as well, but I think of them just as fondly today.
As one gets older you forget the rough edges – or when you do remember them you chuckle about them. The strong memories are the extremes and hopefully there are more good ones than bad.
But that’s life.
Mother’s Day is a day one is supposed to honor one’s mother; treat her well; respect what she’s done for you; and show her a portion of the love she had for you.
But it’s also about taking a moment to think of all the “mom’s” in one’s life and do the same. And if you do, and you’re honest, you’ll find you have a lot of “Mom’s” to think about.
Because those “Mom’s” are there for you – just like your Mom. They’ll give you “that look” or, the really good ones, will tell you when you’re not doing something right. Maybe not in so many words but they’ll let you know.
When you see them, don’t say anything, just give them a hug. It’ll mean as much, or more, to them, as it does to you. And there’s nothing like getting a hug from Mom — or “Mom.”
I know I do, and I will.
Happy Mother’s Day.