Mother’s Day has taken on a new meaning for me in recent years. All my life it used to be just a fun, jovial and “light” time to spoil my mom. Then I became a mom and it became a day for my mom and I to enjoy the sparkle of attention … if only for a nice dinner with our family. Now, it has much more depth and meaning in my heart.

It was Mother’s Day weekend two years ago when we were told that my mother’s breast cancer had spread throughout her body. My life changed forever in that moment. My mom was my dearest best friend, my personal angel, my hero, and my biggest fan. I felt like a part of me died that spring. It was a crushing blow for all of us. But, through the darkness, something unexpected emerged: a larger part of me began to live fully.

I began to pay attention to things that I had previously taken for granted. I started looking for the smallest of blessings and miracles that God had put my way every day. I found beauty and love in places that I had overlooked for years. I appreciated every moment that I was able to spend with Mom (as I should have been doing the entire time!). I started doing the same with my husband, my kids, my dad, and all the other precious people I love.

I realized like never before how incredibly blessed and lucky I am. My mother is dying, and the way she and I went on that journey together was truly a gift in itself. With the bad, there is always the good … sometimes we just need to look for it more closely. God is very good.

I miss my mom’s physical presence more than I ever thought I could miss anyone or anything. I feel like my heart and soul have deep and painful wounds, a big hole in the place where my life with Mom used to be.

Thank God, literally, time and faith have smoothed out the edges of that hole. I have carefully and intentionally filled the rest of my heart with gratitude, appreciation, and joy. I feel my mother’s beautiful, warm and loving smile as I take the time to nurture and heal.

In this Mother’s Day ‘season’, of course, my thoughts turn to my mother even more than usual. I found that my emotions can be all over the place in the weeks leading up to the day. Yes, there is sadness. But there is also overwhelming gratitude. My mother did not leave a fortune in jewelry, money or material things. She left me an invaluable legacy, much more valuable.

My mother taught me everything I needed to know about being a great mother and an exceptional woman, all through her example. She taught me to choose happiness, even when it is not easy. She taught me to love unconditionally and to fully accept people, without judgment. She taught me how to have faith and trust in God, whatever happens. She taught me to do the right thing, regardless of whether anyone would notice.

She showed me how to be kind, patient, and gentle. He showed me over and over again how just being really kind and honest makes other people feel really good. She showed me how to create a fulfilling, meaningful, joyful, loving, and rich life by doing little things that make a big difference.

This is my mom’s legacy.

When I think of Mother’s Day, I am not concerned with material things like jewelry or store bought cards and gifts. I don’t need to be pampered or have wine and dinners. In fact, now I know why Mom always said that too!

What I want most is to truly enjoy my family and feel every ounce of gratitude I have for their presence in my life. The most precious gifts are heartfelt words, homemade gifts, and acts of appreciation and love.

Sure, if you really want me to, I’ll let you take me to a nice restaurant too! And if I really have to, I’ll even let you give me a massage as a gift … but just to make you happy !! (But I don’t want it on Mother’s Day. I want my family on Mother’s Day).

I would like to have a few quiet moments to ‘be with’ my mother, to reflect on the importance of my own role as a mother and the legacy I am creating, and to express my gratitude to all the other amazing women who nurture my life. life.

Of course, I would love for my family to take care of the meals and cleaning on Mother’s Day, but just so I have even more time to relax and enjoy them! I just want to “play” with my family ~ combine my favorite things to do, like something “outdoors”, with my favorite people, minus all work. That’s MY kind of math!

Can you imagine how much more fun motherhood would be if we didn’t have all those daily chores … and could just relax and enjoy the people we love the most? That’s what I’d like to try on Mother’s Day … and maybe a few other days during the year would be nice!

Motherhood is the most difficult and challenging thing I have ever done in my life. But God rewards me with deep joy, pure and intense emotion, infinite depth of love, and some incredibly fun moments! I am truly blessed to be a mom!

Happy Mother’s Day!