Our Mother's Legacy
I grew up in a wonderful family during the '50s and '60s. We lived in a small
town in Missouri where everyone knew everyone else and life was nearly perfect.
Our Mom and Dad were great parents who usually taught their five children by
example. We grew up having lots of family fun, especially around the holidays.
We never realized it at the time, though, that our Mother planned different
activities each year to celebrate some of the holidays, such as Thanksgiving or
Christmas.
What a gift that has been to our family!
One year we took a little trip on Christmas day...one year we had roast beef, or
ham, instead of turkey...one year we opened gifts on Christmas Eve, instead of
Christmas Day...one year we each took some of our gifts to give away to someone
less fortunate. Our Mother was preparing us for the fact that holidays are not
always perfect. Sometimes there is family strife. Sometimes there is illness in
the family. Sometimes there is the loss of a loved one. I thank her for
preparing us to have realistic expectations of the holidays and to be able and
to just be thankful for what we do experience.
Our Mother died of cancer when I was twenty, three months before Christmas.
However, she portrayed strength in her daily life and through her illness. I am
the oldest, so it was up to me to help make a nice holiday. Our Mother's legacy
was the best gift she could have ever given her family, because we knew that she
would want us to appreciate what we have...and we realized that for years she
had been preparing us for stress-free holidays because each year our holiday was
a little different.
This message wishes each of you a Christmas filled with strength, thanksgiving,
and joy for whatever the season may bring.
--Carole N.