A Word From my Mom

 “Youth fades, love droops, the leaves of friendship fall. A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes

I got my love of writing from my mom. Not only did she encourage me to write, she is an excellent writer herself. Daily my mom posts inspirational posts on her Facebook account. She considers this her ministry. But almost always they are remarks of others.

But occasionally she posts her own words and they are especially meaningful to me. This is one of her recent and rare personal posts.

I hope it blesses you like it did me.

*****

Reflections About Aging

I guess none of us understand the effect of aging until we actually come to the time of the “winter” of our lives.

Spring comes and we skip and jump and laugh and play, with little to hinder our journey down life’s pathway.

Then, summer arrives and our activities become a bit more serious as the days are often hot with summer’s heat – work, caring for homes and children in their early years – but still a lot of joy and laughter.

Then, fall appears with the beauty of the falling leaves, and even though the limbs of the trees are now bare of their beautiful foliage, there is still great joy seeing the children romp in the raked up leaves. Even though we know the sap is beginning to go down from the limbs, and even though we know that winter is soon to come, we still have hope near as we believe and know that the trees and plants will bud again.

We look apprehensively at the changes around us, knowing that winter is approaching and with it the cold winds which chill our bones and cause the window panes to be frosted over so that looking out at times becomes difficult.

Winter does cause slowness of movement at times – snow, ice, cold winds – but even in the midst of winter we are encouraged as we see the daffodils peep up through the cold soil and at times through the snow. They are such a tender looking plant, yet they are so brave and strong. They keep pushing upward until one day their beautiful flower appears. We look at the flowers and rejoice because we know that another season is coming soon.

And so, life continues on and we are taught by God’s creation to have faith and to keep on keeping on, one day at a time – as one has wonderfully written – “…change what we can, accept what we cannot change, and ask God to help us to know the difference.” I did not quote that exactly as the author wrote it, but you understand the message I am sure.” – Carolyn Kemp