I’d like to introduce to you one of the most important people in my life, one who has impacted me profoundly and will always be remembered with honor. This person is my mother, Jill Weirick. And it’s only logically appropriate that she gets due credit during this week of Mother’s Day.
My mother is tougher than nails, more tender than feathers, more loving than a thousand friends. Never has she betrayed her family, often has she strived to ensure peace and gratitude. She’s a model new mothers would be wise to imitate.
“Men are what their mothers made them.“
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
It may not be true in all senses, but Emerson’s point remains: mothers are in a beautifully unique position to propel their children toward greatness. Most of us would agree that our mothers played a massively vital role in shaping who we have become.
Memories
Here are a few of the things I admire about my mother, things I remember about her, and our experiences together:
- When any of us three children were sick, she transformed into her compassionate caretaker alter-personality, Dr. Ziggerhoffer (complete with Eastern European accent).
- She always encouraged the whole family to sit down to dinner together, and set aside distractions so that we would have meaningful time as a family.
- She loves playing games, especially fast-paced card games. This is always thoroughly peppered with…
- Laughing. My mother has a loud, joyful, lively laugh. And she uses it frequently.
- My mother is a fighter. She beat breast cancer, supported my father during his brief unemployment, dealt honestly with the grief of her dad passing away, raised three rambunctious children to adulthood, and much more.
- She has a vibrant relationship with Jesus. She loves telling others how much God has blessed her. For as long as I can remember, she’d been sipping coffee and reading Scripture as I stumbled into the kitchen for breakfast every day.
- My mother has an unparalleled obsession with birds. During Minnesota summers, she often sits in the backyard with binoculars in one hand and the National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds in the other.
- Mom is a great listener. She’s always available to comfort and help her children, husband, and friends. She likes to remind us to be patient with life, to trust God, and to enjoy the process of living.
There’s so much more I could write about her. In short, I love my mother and appreciate her dearly for all that she is.
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Take some time to call, write, or reminisce on the grand beauty displayed by the mothers in our lives.
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That was awesome, John.
Thanks, Steve. It just made sense to pay tribute to my mother and moms everywhere who play a massively valuable role in our lives.