Sunday, May 10, 2015

Happy Mother's Day

To all moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

We never do anything special on Mother's Day (or Father's Day, for that matter). We just continue to go about our ordinary business.

But something trivial happened recently which, when I stopped to think about it, was rather profound.

I saw Younger Daughter looking out the west window near sunset. "What are you looking at?" I asked her.

"The way the setting sun is shining through the dandelions," she replied.


I looked out the window and realized she was right. Backlit by the setting sun, these humble tufts of seeding flowers were indescribably beautiful. Yet most of the time, few of us would give them a second glance.


The mothers we admire the most are like dandelions -- humble and unobtrusive, ordinary and common, just living their lives and asking very little in return. Very often we take them for granted. Yet once in awhile it takes a setting sun to turn them into things of indescribable beauty.

Our closest neighbor lost her mother this morning. Yes, her mother passed away on Mother's Day. It was not unexpected -- the older woman had been ill for quite some time -- but I'm certain the poignancy isn't lost on our neighbor as she mourns the woman who gave her life.

To those of us fortunate enough to have mothers still living, let's give them a little "backlit sunshine" today and remember their beauty. To those who have lost their mothers, let's be thankful for what we had and try to pass a good legacy on to our own children so that someday they, too, will rise and call us blessed.

7 comments:

  1. Very Happy Mothers Day to you!!!!

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  2. Happy Mother's Day to you and all ....and I thanked mine (now 86 with dementia) for all of the unappreciated things that she has done over the years. As the mom now I realize just how good I had it and what she did........ Natokadn

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  3. Just wanted to say how much I enjoy the photographs at the top of your blog. You have a good eye for composition and an obvious love of nature. It's a bright spot in my day. Haven't commented before, only "lurked" but the dandelion picture was special.

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  4. Lovely, post, Patrice.
    Brought tears to my eyes.....

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  5. Happy Mother's Day, albeit late. Happy every day, to all the mom's out there. I am quite stirred by your line, " Yet once in awhile it takes a setting sun to turn them into things of indescribable beauty." Yes, it does. I pray for those that still have their moms (or dads) to see the beauty before it is too late to let the dandelion moms know.
    sidetracksusie

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