For Mother's Day

For years, my Mom collected a bunch of clippings and pictures along with odds and ends that ended up on the front of her refrigerator. It seems to be the thing we do, creating the “Kitchen Collage” as an art project!

Do you have that in your home?

I decided that if it was important enough for Mom to put it on the refrigerator, I should probably pay attention to what these clippings said. And so I did! When she was in the later years of her life I decided to take pictures of all the neat quotes, prayers, comics, and sage wisdom she collected there – because it occurred to me that these clippings revealed what was valuable to her! It was what touched her emotionally!

Prayers from the church worship program. Irish sayings. Something that made her chuckle. Comic strips, usually Peanuts, with Charlie Brown and the gang! She loved them!

I discovered too, that she wasn’t real fond of cooking. That came from the collection that included the following:

•“Many people have eaten my cooking and gone on to lead normal lives.”
•“I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.”
•“I kiss better than I cook.”

It’s important that you understand your Mother’s values, and learn to appreciate the things that... well, she appreciated! The one clipping I found most important was small and yellowed with age, and I pointed it out to my brother so he would know as well.

Who knows how long it was up there before we finally discovered one of the things that made her heart jump!

#917 “No matter how old you get, hug and kiss your mother whenever you greet her.”
—Life’s Little Instruction Book

How many of you mothers are nodding – you know what that means! That sentiment is precious to you, too. Right?

Readers: Please pay attention to the subtle and not so subtle hints left lying around by your mothers! Treat them to the thing that thrills them! You can’t go wrong with that! I’ll leave you with this prayer for the Church that was among the collection. . .

Oh God, in whose image we know our faith, we seek Your presence.
Bless our church.
Guide us as we make decisions as to how we can together use our time, our talents, and our gifts.
We pray for wisdom and insight.
​Amen.