By Doug Creamer
Thankful for Mom(s)
I grew up watching the Brady Bunch and Leave it to Beaver. These were iconic families. They were perfect families. We watched because we enjoyed the show but I think there was a small part of all of us that wished our families were like those families. We wanted the perfect mom and dad and lots of love.
No one had that kind of perfect childhood. No parent, no matter how hard they try or want to be, is perfect. As adults we all make bad choices because we live in a fallen world. Parents have to try and do the best they can in each situation. Sometimes things turn out great, other times things aren’t so great.
I feel lucky and blessed to have grown up in a home where my needs were met. I had good food, nice clothes, and a good roof over my head. There are many people who aren’t so lucky. I grew up in a safe and stable environment. My parents were not perfect but they did the best they could for our family.
Since Mother’s Day was last weekend, I was thinking specifically about my mother. My mom was a stay-at-home mom. She has always been active in the community and until recently she was active in church. Mom has always loved a bargain and passed that love on to her four children. Mom has always loved gardening and still loves planting flowers and growing vegetables. She has also been an avid reader. She would sometimes have several books going at the same time. Both my parents could be found reading when we went on family vacations.
Mom has a green thumb and she knows how to revive those plants that are on the discount table. Mom is a very creative person. She ran a flower business when I was a kid and arranged the flowers for my wedding. Her creativity wasn’t limited to flowers; she could write, too. She writes an annual Christmas letter to family and friends, a tradition my brother and I maintain.
My mother taught me right from wrong. Switches were out of style when I was coming along so she used the metal spatula. Sometimes all she had to do was rattle the drawer that held the spatula to get us back in line. Mom believes in treating people right and she modeled that for us kids. She taught us to believe and look for the best in people and I really appreciate that and try to practice that as I teach my students.
I feel lucky that my mom is still with us. I have been reflecting on the idea that sometimes God gives us “extra” moms. Naturally, a mother-in-law becomes extra mom. My wife and I found a special person when we were in college who became like an extra mom for us. She and her husband gave us some home-cooked meals and took us on adventures. I told my Dad’s significant other that she was like an extra Mom. I believe we can’t have too many people investing in us, caring about us, speaking words of encouragement, and helping guide us through the many ins and outs of life.
The Bible encourages us to honor our parents, and it’s nice that we set aside a day in May to honor moms and a day in June to honor dads. If we are lucky enough to have good parents, we can receive great deposits from them. I’ll admit that sometimes we pick up our parent’s quirks within those deposits, but that is part of what makes life interesting. Still, we should stop, reflect, and appreciate all that our parents did to raise us and encourage us to spread our wings and fly. My mom did a good job raising her four children and helping each of us grow into responsible adults. I honor her for the good job that she did with each of us.
I want to encourage you to reflect on your life and consider the impact your parents, especially your mom, had on your trajectory in life. Remember to be thankful for all that she did and sacrificed for you. Take time to express that thanks to her. If your mom has passed then let the seeds she planted in your heart grow and produce a harvest in her memory. Moms live so selflessly all their lives, wanting to make sure that their kids grow up to have a positive impact in their little corner of the world. Thanks, Mom, for a job well done. I hope we make you proud. I love you, Mom!
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
