Creative Commons License photo credit: mysteriouskyn

My Mom is a great person. She gives good advice, is a hard worker, and cares about others. She places other people’s needs before her own and doesn’t begrudge anyone of the time or expense that she spends in a situation.

There have been many times throughout my life when Mom has helped a person who is in need, whether she knew that person or not. There have been many times, for instance, when Mom has picked up a hitchhiker during our out-of-town adventures. When asked about the possible danger of such an act, she merely states that if it’s possible to pull over to the side of the road at the moment, then it’s meant to be done. She attributes this seemingly lackadaisical approach to her strong faith in God. So far, she hasn’t had a trouble and has made some friends along the way.

Mom’s kindness has also been extended to friends and acquaintances. Take last Christmas, for example. Mom found out through the grapevine that a coworker, who was a single mother, didn’t have any extra money to spend on Christmas traditions or gifts. Without missing a beat, Mom went out a bought that family a Christmas tree and trimmings so the kids would have a sense of the Christmas spirit. But that was only the beginning. She then made sure that there was plenty of extra food for the family, and on Christmas Eve she delivered gifts to be opened on Christmas morning. If such kindness were not enough, she never expected, nor would she accept repayment for her act of generosity.

Mom’s consistent response to the question, “How can I ever repay you?” is based on a “circle of love” concept. This concept can best be explained as such: “Do not ever think to repay me, just help the next person in need.”

In my own experience, Mom has helped me in many ways. There have been several times when Mom has rescheduled her life to take care of my son, Alexander, so that I could work or take a much-needed bread for social occasions. She has encouraged me whenever I’ve felt less than perfect and has celebrated my successes in life. For example, she was the single calming force present while I was in labor and during the delivery of my son. While it seemed like everyone around me was telling me how to feel and trying too hard to make me comfortable, I could hear my Mom standing behind the shadows saying, “She’s got that caged animal look!” While her actions didn’t take the pain away (nothing could!), I felt a sense of understanding that really helped.

In my youth, I was as serious a violinist as any who could be found. On a daily basis, Mom encouraged me to do well and went to every concert in which I was ever involved. My senior year in high school I auditioned to be a soloist with the Kalamazoo Symphony. Each day we watched and waited for the news that would tell me whether I had been chosen to play. Several weeks passed before, finally, the mailbox produced the letter. At first, Mom and I just stared at the unopened envelope sitting on the table. I couldn’t open it, so Mom did. She then instructed me to take the document out of the envelope and then we read the good news together, out loud. As soon as it was determined that my playing was accepted, we began dancing through the house! Tears, laughter, and joyous exclamations were all evident at the same time, and a celebration of all that was good in life ensued for that day and several days that followed.

While I’ve not always recognized Mom’s good nature in my youth, her example has been ever-present in my life. She has forever placed a permanent mark on my heart through her kindness to all who have known her.

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