She Gave Birth and All She Gets Is This Stupid Blog Post

I walked in Relay For Life this weekend in honor of mom.

In honor of Mother’s Day, I wanted to share a little bit about my mom. She is the smartest woman I know who has the potential to do anything – and what she chose to do was give selflessly as a mother and wife, in addition to working and volunteering. I admire her so much and wanted to share a few little gems mom has taught me over the years. Some of them are direct quotes and others are paraphrasing a lesson she taught me, as she is someone who practices her faith in action more often than words.

Be kind to yourself. My mom told me that one yesterday. It is something that is difficult for both of us as we are the type to scrutinize about the details or obsess about what we should have done differently. When I go to my mom for advice or in a time of need, she reminds me to take care of myself – something that can often be forgotten in the midst of a bad situation or busy day.

Read often. A funny quirk about mom is she can never tell you what she read. Even before she started getting old (just kidding, mom), she has always forgotten book titles and authors, but she reads more than anyone I know. Sometimes she reads “fluff,” sometimes novels, sometimes magazines, sometimes classics – the lesson is just to read as much as you can. I think having her nose in a book all the time is what made her so smart!

Your sister is the best friend you will ever have. My sister and I are two very different people and my mom always had to deal with us fighting. No matter how different we are, I will always remember her reminding me that my sister is my best friend. I have other wonderful friends, but I only have one sister.

Do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). When I think about my mom, this bible verse pops into my head. She is someone who believes in granting justice and showing kindness towards all – and she does so humbly, driven by her faith.

I love you mom and I’m sorry that you gave birth to me and all you get is this stupid blog post.