I took a look back at my words from Mother’s Day last year. I love writing because it paints a picture, not just of what I did, but how I felt. Reflection is a process I find a necessity of my life. (When there is time)
Reflecting on my post (re posted below) I realized, that WAS the gift of last year… More time
Invasive cancer caught, in time, through a miraculous sequence of events outside my control.
What a gift of Grace!! A double gift.
More time…AND
The knowledge that I was given more time.
I don’t know exactly how much, no one can know that. But I know it was more.
WOW I did nothing to deserve more time. I know there are many others without more time.
I am not sure I lived this, more time, fully enough. I have had good days and bad days, but mostly I have had MORE days! So many more, that I took some for granted. Some, not all.
Not the day I gave birth to myself. The part of me that had given life 4 times, now giving life to me.
https://notthemaid.wordpress.com/2014/04/29/this-womb/
That was kind of a big deal. I was the mother recovering from a difficult birth and baby beginning all at once. One year old now, I am starting to stand on my two feet and walk a bit. Shaky still.
Not the days my Mom came to take care of me. Healing not only physical wounds but emotional ones. Not the week Richard spent with me in the hospital. I treasure those days. There is more:
The day I got to sit, so proud, and hear my son give one of the commencement speeches at graduation. The days last summer I played frisbee with Noah. A whole field to ourselves of green grass and clover. Running barefoot, at risk of being stung, by offended bees accidentally stepped on. Too tired to play, too much fun to quit. The day I watched him walk away to board a flight to Israel for a year. Instead of tears, just sweat pouring down his shirt. Tall, strong and young. Goodness wrapped around him like a warm yellow light. Knowing I would be here to miss him. Knowing I would be here to see him home.
My wedding anniversary, celebrated by Richard, myself and the United Van moving team cleaning out our house. Homeless and moving to a new land. Unforgettable and perfect, as it highlighted the teamwork we have hard earned through our 20 year journey together. A very surprising and unpredictable path trying to love each other, and raise good happy kids without losing ourselves and each other along the way. The day I bought this dress.
In spite of all the good reasons I shouldn’t. Because I could. Because I was still here, standing in this store liking how it looked on me. Even with an endless number of more days, you only get a handful of those! The day I wore it and my husband kissed me like that.
The day we were all sick, homeless, the temperature dropped to 10 degrees and all I could do was cry. The days I was so mad at my kids I started screaming at them! Until I said something stupid and we all started laughing. The days I have had to say “I’m sorry” for being grumpy, grouchy, snappy and impatient. The days I belly laughed so hard at my family telling stories and acting out skits around the dinner table. The day I cried to the ‘uber’ driver all the way to the airport, because we were moving and leaving our dear friends. (No one else will give my kids THAT experience).
The weeks of days I spent with Zeke at his new school. Witnessing and waiting and supporting his struggle to stand on his own two feet in a foreign land. Me, the only one who could see him through in just that way. The day he hugged me and walked away. No tears.
Hannah’s first day at her new school. The joyful surprise when she got to the classroom and said, “Mom I got this, you can go”.
The day I saw Micah walk through Security on her own to fly to Chicago. Watching her not watching me. The day I took her to the airport to fly to Israel on her own and she wanted me to stay with her through Security. Me, being able to offer ‘security’ just a bit longer. Knowing she was going to see her brother. Knowing they were excited to see each other. Knowing they didn’t have the burden of missing me yet. Knowing, even when my time is up, they have each other, and I am still here to nurture that. Reminding myself why it was OK I didn’t get to see Noah this time. I have more time.
Time. More of it. Lots more of it.
This Mother’s Day, one year later, I am here. I am healthy. My whole family is healthy. Richard, Hannah, Zeke and I played at the beach. I watched them squeal and ride the waves. I took a long walk barefoot in the sand and savored every sweet step. Steps I could not take last Mother’s Day. I gave myself permission to let go of any need for fast or far to be a part of my progress and recovery. I enjoyed simply… progress. We splurged and stayed a night, in spite of all the good reasons why we shouldn’t. Because we could. Because we are still here. Because we know we were given more time and we are thankful
Time. More of it. I was given more days. I was generously and lovingly given the knowledge of receiving more days. Then I was given the hope of looking forward to even more days. A rare and precious gift.
I fully let go of my expectations that ‘Mother’s Day’ look like a greeting card. I did not need anything from my family to make the day special. I got to be a mom for another year. A year of more days. I take the good days and the bad days with a grateful heart. Because at the end of the day. I have been given MORE.
Happy Mother’s Day
Not The Maid 