Legacy of Living Well

Dear Mom!  Writing A Special Mother’s Day Letter!

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and if you’re anything like I was when my mother was alive–it was always the mad search to find just the right gift that expressed perfectly the love and respect I had for her and the wonderful influence she was in my life!  I don’t think it ever really dawned on me that the best gift might have been to write a letter and tell her what was in my heart…you see, having been a mother for many years now myself, I’ve come to realize that time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters!

I love the quote by the late satirical journalist, Erma Bombeck, that says, “Mothers have an astute way of making your life feel important!”  Why then…do we often find it so hard to express our gratitude for them?

One of the things that romanticized my dad and mom’s generation for me were the letters that my parents often wrote to each other during their courtship and subsequent marriage, as well as other amazing stories I’ve read about that were highlighted in the correspondence that was shared between loved ones who were often separated for long periods of time during the war times of that era.

The Art Of Letter Writing!

In this day and age of ever advancing technology and electronic communication, we just might find ourselves in need of a little refresher course in the art of letter writing.  When I looked up the word “letter” in the dictionary–yes, I resisted the urge to access Goggle–the definition proved profound!

Letter: (noun) A written message from one party to another containing information.  Letters guarantee the preservation of communication between both parties.  They bring friends or relatives closer together, enrich professional relationships and provide a satisfying means of self-expression.

A Mother’s Day Letter!

Interestingly, it also states that the main advantage of letters are there is no need for special devices– just a postal address and stamp where applicable.  Letters also provide a permanent physical record of communication that is more personal than an email.

If you need a little inspiration to help get you started, here’s a few ideas…

♥Celebrate Memories!

There’s nothing that gets the ball rolling, so to speak, than sharing a few favorite memories that you can both laugh about!  If I was writing a letter to my mom now, perhaps I would share again the story we laughed about over the years…

One afternoon when I had first learned to ride a bike, but was still a little shaky, my mom thought I should wear some gym shoes instead of the sandals I had on as I set out on a bike ride adventure with friends.  She knew that I still used my feet on occasion for some extra breaking power when I got going too fast.  Well it was summer, I was with friends, and somehow putting on shoes didn’t seem too cool at the time.  But as fate would have it, it wasn’t long before my vulnerable feet had to be used to help gain control of my bike as I descended a steep hill.  Oh, how I remember hobbling home with the toe pieces of my thongs all askew and gravel embedded in most of my toenails.  My mother and I would have chuckled again about how some kids have to learn things the hard way!

♥ Tell Her You Love Her…And Why!

Many conversations in our family end with, “Love ya!”  And while there’s nothing wrong with that, writing down a few specific reasons why you love your mom is sure to make this Mother’s Day especially memorable for her!

I love that my mother taught me that it was okay to express my feelings and share my concerns with her; she truly was my “safe haven” when the world seemed a bit daunting.  Her ability to listen was one of her greatest virtues!  I loved my mother’s deep commitment to our family.  She taught me to have a willing heart and in so doing, she helped me realize just how beautiful the world can be when you serve and give to others.  I loved how she showed such finesse in living well!   

Thank goodness our mother’s are patient and can withstand the many phases of a child’s love as they grow and mature!

♥  Thank Her For Her Sacrifices!

It goes without saying that our mother’s seem to come with an innate ability to love us unconditionally and are willing to do most anything within their power to help their children become the best versions of themselves.  Perhaps the best way for us to thank them for their selflessness (beside telling them) would be to always work hard at reaching our full potential!  In his book, “All Mom’s Go To Heaven” –Dean Hughes discusses this topic perfectly!

We say, “My mother is always self-sacrificing; she takes the smallest piece of pie and never looks out for herself because she does everything for us.  She cleans and scrubs and picks up after us and works her fingers to the bone and I really do appreciate it.”  We ought to follow that line of thought with the right conclusion; “But I’m going to do my best to change that because it just isn’t right.  From now on , I’m going to take the smaller piece of pie, and I’m going to help her scrub the tub and toilets and I’m going to pick up after myself.”

♥  Share What You’ve Learned From Her!

I think it’s fair to say that young mother’s in the trenches of raising small children all too often feel like most of what they have to say usually falls on deaf ears!

One valuable lesson I learned from my mother’s nurturing example was just how important it was to truly enjoy the journey of motherhood and the privilege that was mine of being able to steer my children in the right direction with positive energy and disciplined guidance; trying my best to help them develop integrity and strength in character that would lead them to being productive, caring individuals!

“As a mother, you will often be somebody’s superhero…and you won’t even have to wear a cape!”  Jen Singer  “14 Hours Before Bedtime” 

(My mother has been gone for a little over ten years now, but I am always mindful of her and the wonderful legacy she left for our family!)

♥  Share Your Heart!

Being a mother is not without its joys and triumphs, but the truth of the matter is that most days it is really hard work!  Maybe the hardest thing about mothering is keeping a clear vision of the big picture amid the confusion of everyday life!  Who better to help you gain keener perspective than your own mother…after all, she can attest to the fact that embracing the role of being a mother makes you a better person!  Whenever I did share my heart with my sweet mother, and the feeling of inadequacy I felt on occasion, as I compared my skills to those of other women, she in turn shared her heart…always reassuring me that ALL mothers are human and they mess up and make mistakes–their best isn’t perfect by a long shot–but still the role of “Mother” is one to be cherished and cultivated in our own unique way!

“Of all the people who reach out and try to understand one another, mothers surely ought to lead the way!”  Dean Hughes

I’d love to know what little gems of advice your mom taught you that you treasure the most!

Happiest Mother’s Day wishes to all…and happy writing!

(Feel free to down load some fun stationary here to use for writing your letter.)

–Mary