yesterday, i had the privilege of preaching to a dear congregation in new jersey on mother’s day, that grand day in our calendar year which we reserve to, more prominently, accent the estimable ministry of motherhood…in fact, one of my chief claims in yesterday’s message was that, indeed, motherhood is a ministry—a service to our god, i believe, and worthy of veneration because of the nature of its “calling”…
i realized something in it all though, dear moma….i really miss you
i miss most your unfaltering love expressed in words—yes—but more, in your belief and encouragement to an ever-insecure young boy trying to find out who he was…
i miss your zest for possibilities that you never realized yet urged me to consider; even despite your many disappointments, you dared not destroy the naïve hopes of your young son-dreamer…
i miss the feelings, rare though they were, of making you a proud parent…
i regret the many times that i was the source of your pain…
i regret that i didn’t have the words to share – that i was too impotent, articulately, rather, to share – with you at times when you cried…
i regret that i didn’t have the moral character or personal maturity to “be there” for you at your most difficult time…
and so let me today, i guess reflectively, wish you a posthumous happy mother’s day and say that i have learned these things about the great office of motherhoood through you:
1.) you’re so worthy of honor because your vocation is so valuable: you set me on the path to personal destiny…you were the principal person in shaping who I am: a most formidable chore…
2.) you’re so worthy of honor because of the many thankless deeds and sacrifices you made because of Love for me…
3.) you’re so worthy of admiration from many, my moma, because historically even we fail to esteem great “mothers” like you…the nurture and attention that only you could give to someone who would otherwise be overlooked deserves our praises…
happy mother’s day, dear moma…how I wish your person was still “here” so that I could somehow offer my more worldly appreciation…
with love eternal,
your son,
CVT
