MOM

I miss her every day.  It’s been three years since my Mother passed away.  I still find it hard to believe she is gone.  She was a wonderful Mom who loved her husband and family without reservation.  That’s what mothers do.  That’s who mothers are.  Unconditional love.

( Photo: Bishop O'Connell's mother congratulates her son on his ordination as Bishop.)

Mother's Day has come once again and our attention turns to the women who gave us life, who took care of us, who raised us and who stood beside us come what may.  What a blessing our mothers are, what a gift from God.  They deserve more than a single day set aside in their honor.  We owe them a lifetime of gratitude and love.

Although, for some of us, death has taken our moms from us, our faith and our memories never separate them from our lives. For those who continue to have their moms with them, Mother's Day is a precious opportunity to let them know how much they mean to us.  We are their daughters and sons and always will be.  What we have become —- the persons we are at any point in our lives, whether young or old —- is a reflection of their love, their sacrifices, their guidance, their presence, their dreams, their hopes, their pride.  Can we ever repay them for all that they have done, for all that they do for us?  Of course, we know the answer to that question.  We also know that our moms never expected or expect us to repay them. Their lives are their selfless, enduring gifts to us, gifts that never stop giving whether they are here or in heaven.

My Mother and I talked all the time, memorable conversations filled with laughter, with tears, with advice and encouragement, with helpful insights and gentle corrections, with easy warmth and comfort and undivided attention as though I was the only person in the world.  I can still hear her voice.  And she did the same with my brothers.

Mother’s Day brings a million cherished memories to mind every year, a few quiet tears, yes,  but many, many more smiles.  That’s what it’s supposed to do.

This Mother's Day, let your mother’s love be uppermost in your thoughts and grateful prayers.  If she is in heaven, know that she loves you still from her place with the Lord.  If she is still with you, do everything you can to let her know how much she means to you.  Give her your heart.  And then resolve to make every day, Mother's Day.