No matter when the first celebration actually was, possibly thanks to Hallmark and other card companies, it has continued and really grown in popularity. Today thousands celebrate by sending cards or flowers, taking their mothers out to eat, visiting with them or at least calling them.
Now I have very few regrets in life, but one is that I should have done much more for my mother, not only on Mother's Day, but throughout her life. Now that I am older I am beginning to realize how much visits from family members really mean to an aging parent. Visits mean so much more than even gifts or going our to eat. There is nothing better to a parent than spending time with their children. I should have done so much more when I could have.
In our family we never really celebrated special days, except maybe Christmas. Others have big birthday parties and special days have special elaborate celebrations. But that isn't the way we were raised. But I know now that tradition isn't a good excuse.
Unfortunately, some of us learn those lessons too late in life when things can no longer be changed. I loved my mother. I couldn't have asked for a better one. I miss talking to her. I would love to be able to tell her once again that I love her.
Fortunately, the Lord prompted all of us to visit her the night before she unexpectedly was killed in an auto accident. That was unusual and I thank the Lord that He prompted all of us to do that. That is a time that I will never forget and I would have felt horrible if I had been too busy to be there.
My mother lived a very challenging life. As a youngster she lived through the Depression and her family had very little in the way of material goods. Then she and my father lived through World War II and the postwar era when jobs were very limited. For years they lived without an automobile. They always had large gardens in order to feed us. They made nine different moves until dad was finally able to get a full-time job in Lancaster where he then worked for 25 years. All those moves must have been very hard for her. But I never heard her complain about it.
Those days were challenging. I remember how excited we would be as kids when mother would have an extra quarter and allow us to purchase a bottle of soda as a treat for the family.
My mother had the gift of hospitality and we often had visiting missionaries and students staying with us. She was very active in serving the Lord, teaching Good News Clubs in our homes and teaching Sunday School classes. Her love for the Lord was a major influence in my life.
Most people don't know that in her latter years she had many difficult physical problems and despite many visits to specialists and many tests, nobody was able to diagnose her problems or give her any relief from her pain. I hate to admit this, but at times I began to think that much of this was just in her mind. But now I have become my mother and am having the same discouraging problems. Oh how wrong I was to think this about her. But maybe my family now thinks the same about me.
Now I still miss her and wish that once again I could call or visit her. I miss knowing that she was praying for me. I miss knowing that she loved me and was proud of things that I was able to do. I miss being able to share with her my joys, my fears and my sorrows. I wish that I had been a better son.
If your parents are still alive, please make sure that one day you don't have similar regrets. The greatest gift that you can give them is you. Do that now while you still can. Those times pass too quickly. Here today, gone tomorrow!
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