Mother’s Day Weekend Open Thread

It’s that time of year again when we show appreciation to the women who gave us birth, or who gave birth to family or chosen family, or who are like mothers to us. That there is only one day set aside to show appreciation to our mothers or the mothers of people important to us seems to be short shrift in my book. Maybe it should serve as a reminder  to us to be appreciative of our mothers, or the mothers in our lives who matter to us, more often.

For those of us who have lost our mothers already, some far too early, I hope this Sunday is a day in which we can remember fond times, or important events, while we had them. Perhaps to remember their laughs, their lives, their hopes and dreams, the quiet times spent alone with them (I came from a family of five kids – that was harder to do than one might think),  the important instruction they may have given us for daily living, their faith, and what they meant to us. What they mean to us still. I know many of us who have already lost our mothers think of them daily, no special day required, but it is a good reminder to actively reflect on them, on their lives, and to be thankful for the gifts they bestowed upon us.

As I noted above, I came from a family of five children, and I am the fourth. The following photograph is from my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary about fifteen years ago. Much has changed with nieces and  nephews growing up and having children of their own. So much of who we are we owe to my mom:

And speaking of owing a lot to Mom, I also owe a lot to my grandmother, Mom’s mom. She was a nurse by vocation, it was in her bones, and she was a firecracker, a very strong, determined woman. She’s been gone over twenty years now, but I think of her often. Okay, I  think of her, and Mom, every time I look int the mirror. That is me on the left ( I was ina college production of “Brigadoon,” hence the look), and a portrait of my grandmother from a photo taken when she was around the same age (19):

 

Yeah – we look a lot alike. And I am thankful for that. It is a constant reminder of two women who helped shape me in a number of ways and for whom I am eternally grateful.

But enough about me. I am not a mother, at least not to a human child (!), though there are many mothers in my life whom I love, respect, and admire. I would love to hear from those of you who ARE mothers, what that has meant to you, maybe a bit about your children, whatever you are moved to say.

And of course, I would love to hear about your mothers (or grandmothers), or the women who were/are like mothers to you. Let’s hear about them!

Before I go, I want to share one story of motherhood. In this case – and I am sure this will shock you – it is about a horse. And not just any horse. This horse, now named Hope, was bound to the Slaughter House when the truck taking her to her end wrecked. Nine horses died in that terrible crash, while twenty-one of them survived, and were rescued from death’s door. This is Hope’s story (h/t I Heart Horses) from the Horse Channel:

Six months after an accident on Interstate 40 in Knoxville, Tennessee, some unexpected joy has emerged. The accident involved a trailer carrying 30 slaughter-bound horses. Nine of the horses died as a result of the crash, but several of the survivors got a second chance at life when they were taken in by Omega Horse Rescue in Pennsylvania.

One of the horses was adopted by Amy Neary, a Tennessee resident who helped with the surviving equines on the night of that tragic accident as part of her role as an emergency hauler for the University of Tennesse’s veterinary school. Neary named the black-and-white pinto mare Hope.

On April 12, Hope gave birth to a colt. Because Hope’s background was mostly unknown prior to her rescue, Neary and the staff at Omega hadn’t known that Hope was pregant, and the colt was a surprise. The foal, a medicine hat with a blue eye, is healthy, as is his mom. Neary has named him Freedom and calls him Freddy for short,according to a story from WBIR.com. (Click here to read more).

 There is a great video about Hope, Freedom, and Neary, that you can see here. But isn’t it amazing that a crash on the way to slaughter ended up saving the lives of 21 – make that 22 – horses? What a blessing indeed.

To all of you mothers out there, I wish you a very Happy , ad blessed, Mother’s Day.

This is the Weekend Open Thread.

Tags: Mother's Day