A Mother's Day reflection

My most memorable Mother's Day ever took place when my daughter was just five years old. Rick was in the hospital trying to recover from a very, very long illness. In fact, he'd already been in the hospital for two solid months... and was experiencing a setback that was placing him back at square one, ruining all of the progress he had made so far.

Elizabeth and I got up that Sunday morning and headed to church. We kept our usual routine as much as possible while Rick was in the hospital. And going to church on Sundays was part of that routine. Even without Rick.

Mother's Day at Glenkirk Presbyterian Church was a beautiful occasion. There was a big green, wire cross sitting on the stairs leading up to the "stage." And all of the children would walk down the center aisle, with a flower in their hands, placing each one into the giant cross. When all of the children had made the walk, men would lift and stand the giant cross up for all to see its beauty. And it truly was beautiful. Completely flower laden.

On this particular Mother's Day morning... Elizabeth was among the many children walking down the aisle. I watched intently as my child carried her flower towards the cross. But she didn't make it there.

Elizabeth saw me, made a right turn and made her way through all the people in my crowded pew... and we embraced. And sobbed. And sobbed some more. I hugged her for all she was worth.

I know we were quite a spectacle to the folks around us. I honestly knew that... and didn't care.

And Elizabeth did not return with the other children to her classroom. She sat with me throughout the rest of the service.

And it was good.

We tried so hard not to ever let our emotions show for the nightmare we were living... so it was beyond wonderful to let it all out.

So, was it a good Mother's Day?

Oh yes. It was good. It was memorable. It was wonderful. Yet I have no idea why it was so.

And yet I cherish that memory.

And yes, it all had a wonderful outcome, a wonderful ending. What we went through on that particular Mother's Day... would all become a distant memory one day. And that day has arrived.

Rick today is healthy, thriving... and driving us all crazy! In a good way. We had no way of knowing on that Mother's Day that we would be so blessed in thirteen years. We didn't know.

But it doesn't matter now.

Not one bit.
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