At mass on Easter Sunday, in front of us, there was a little girl of about four years old who had fallen asleep with her head on her mom's lap. When it was time for communion her mother gently lifted her up and whispered to her that she could stay there. As she slowly made her way up the aisle, I saw this mom turn and look back at her groggy daughter sitting there in front of me.
The mother's face was bright with a smile; a smile that was warm and comfortable; a smile that said, "all is well, all is safe"; a beacon in the dark. In that line of backs, there was the mom's sweet face shining forth. As a mom, I knew that smile and understood the gesture.
And in that instant, I realized this is what it means to be a mom.
It's that smile that shines reassuringly even when she is nervous or uncertain, but doesn't want her child to know. It's the bright face that peeks around other parents, up on tip toes to be sure her child can see her face during the school choir concert. It's the face that blinks back tears and smiles as big as she can on the first day of kindergarten. It's always sitting in the same place in the stands, beaming back with a big thumbs up when her kid skates out onto the ice. It's the gentle squeeze of the hand held tightly on the way into the doctor's office. It's standing a little longer and clapping a little harder at the competition, the play, the game, the recital, so as be to sure to be seen by the child on the field or court or the rink or the stage or the risers.
It's always being there. It's lighting the way. It's comforting from afar. It's communicating with just a look. It's being connected with invisible lines. It's letting go without ever letting go. It's encouraging. It's empowering. It's never giving up. It's trusting, It's heartbreaking. It's what a mother does.
To all the mothers out there, Happy Mother's Day. Our title sometimes sounds like nothing more than maid, cook, chauffeur, teacher and laundress, but we know the truth. Enjoy the day! Over and out…
Anna
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