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This week many of us will make a trip to the store and wander the rows of Hallmark cards, searching for the perfect Mother's Day card for our mother. We will stare blankly at the selection, most of the "good" ones already picked by others, opening, reading and closing dozens of cards before we settle for one that is the best fit to give Mom for Mother's Day.
Before I was old enough to browse the cards, I, along with many other children, made homemade gifts and cards you couldn't buy in a store to give to Mom. We worked away at school creating the perfect gift out of clay in art class or painstakingly covering our homemade cards with oodles of glitter. Maybe we even made a coupon book for Mom with various coupons. "Good for one hug." "Good for one night of doing dishes." "I will be nice to my siblings for the day."
It seems that as we get older, we get lazy. We go to the store and settle for a card instead of giving something to Mom that really comes from the heart. Besides, Mom doesn't really need another candle to add to an already overflowing collection of candles given to her from various birthdays and holidays before.
Mom, you're my best friend and I love and appreciate you more than you'll ever know! As I get older, I understand more and more everything you did and said when I was younger and I've grown to appreciate that too. There are many times I look back and think "I wish I would have listened to Mom!"
I challenge all of you to find a special way to let your mother know you love her and appreciate everything she does. Take her to her favorite restaurant, dig out an old photo album with pictures you can share together, give her a beautiful bouquet of her favorite flowers. Take a minute to call her and tell her how much you appreciate everything she does.
Happy Mother's Day to all the beautiful moms out there. Enjoy your special day on Sunday.