Thursday, July 23, 2020
A TRIBUTE TO MY "BEAUTIFUL MOTHER"
I WAS SO BLESSED TO HAVE THIS WONDERFUL EARTH ANGEL AS MY MOTHER. SHE WAS MY SOURCE OF LOVE, STRENGTH, ENCOURAGEMENT AND SECURITY. SHE STRIVED TO PROVIDE THE BEST LIFE POSSIBLE FOR HER CHILDREN AND FAMILY. I HAVE SO MANY FOND MEMORIES FROM MY CHILDHOOD DOING EVERYTHING TOGETHER AS A FAMILY. BAKING CHRISTMAS COOKIES, GOING TO CHURCH EVERY SUNDAY AND THEN TO THE CEMETERY TO TEND TO THE FAMILY GRAVES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR LOVED ONES ARE NO LONGER PHYSICALLY WITH US THEY ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN, THE VACATIONS TO WILDWOOD CREST AND CAPE COD, THE CHURCH PICNICS AND HELPING AT THE ANNUAL CHURCH BAZAARS, CELEBRATING ALL HOLIDAYS AND BIRTHDAYS, AND SO MANY, MANY OTHER GREAT MEMORIES FROM EARLY CHILDHOOD RIGHT UP TO THE PRESENT. THEY WERE FUN, LOVING AND EXCITING TIMES, ALL BASED ON HER LOVE FOR HER FAMILY.
SHE WAS ALSO A VERY STRONG WOMAN, WITH RESPECT AND DISCIPLINE BEING THE RULE OF THE HOUSE FOR HER CHILDREN. THERE WERE CHORES AND CURFEWS AND WAS STRICT ABOUT THAT. SHE WAS THE DISCIPLINARIAN, FIRST GIVING THAT STERN LOOK WHICH WAS FEARED MORE THAN THE PUNISHMENT THAT FOLLOWED. BUT AS TOUGH AS SHE WAS, SHE ALSO HAD A SOFT SIDE. SHE WAS HAPPIEST WHEN INVOLVED WITH DOING THINGS WITH AND FOR HER FAMILY AND FRIENDS. SHE LOVED BEING WITH PEOPLE AND LENDING A HELPING HAND.
I SHARED A SPECIAL BOND WITH MY MOM. WE ENJOYED BEING IN EACH OTHER'S COMPANY AND LAUGHED A LOT. SHE SUPPORTED ME THROUGH SOME OF THE DARKEST TIMES IN MY LIFE AS I STRUGGLED THROUGH SERIOUS MEDICAL ISSUES, AND I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HER UNDYING LOVE AND SUPPORT TO HELP ME THROUGH THEM. SHE WAS MORE THAN JUST MY MOTHER, SHE WAS MY VERY BEST FRIEND. I WILL MISS THIS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AND AMAZING WOMAN TERRIBLY. I AM HEARTBROKEN. SHE WILL ALWAYS BE A PART OF ME, AND I HOPE I HAVE MADE HER PROUD. I WILL KEEP HER ALIVE BY SPEAKING HER NAME AND RECALLING ALL THE SPECIAL TIMES AND MEMORIES MADE TOGETHER, AND BY DOING SO, IN TIME, HOPEFULLY THE ACHE IN MY HEART WILL BEGIN TO HEAL. THIS POEM I READ DESCRIBES US PERFECTLY:
"YOU'VE GIVEN ME SO MUCH, YOUR LOVE FROM THE HEART, THE WARMTH OF YOUR TOUCH
THE GIFT OF LIFE, YOU'RE A TRUE FRIEND TO ME, WE HAVE A SPECIAL BOND, I'M SURE YOU'D AGREE
HOW TRULY BLESSED I AM THAT YOU'RE MY MOTHER SO DEAR AND I LOVE YOU MORE WITH EACH PASSING YEAR
IF I COULD HAVE CHOSEN, I WOULD HAVE PICKED NO OTHER
THAN FOR YOU TO BE MY LIFELONG FRIEND, AND MY PRECIOUS MOTHER"
MOM, THANK YOU FOR PROVIDING ME WITH THE WONDERFUL LIFE YOU DID. I CHERISH ALL OUR TIME TOGETHER. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL YOU WERE MY MOM AND THAT YOU LIVED A LONG, FULL AND HAPPY LIFE. IT GIVES ME PEACE KNOWING THAT YOU ARE REUNITED WITH POP, YOUR BELOVED JACK, AND ALL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE YOU. YOUR LIFE HAS MADE IT'S MARK AND NOTHING, NOT EVEN DEATH, CAN BREAK THE SPECIAL BOND WE SHARED. I LOVE YOU TO THE MOON AND BACK.
HONOR MY MOTHER'S MEMORY BY PRACTICING COMPASSION AND KINDNESS. IT CAN MAKE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE'S LIFE.
IN CONCLUSION, I OFFER THE LORD'S PRAYER:
OUR FATHER, WHO ART IN HEAVEN, HALLOWED BE THY NAME.
THY KINGDOM COME, THY WILL BE DONE, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, AND FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES,
AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL,
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER AND THE GLORY, FOREVER AND EVER, AMEN.
ALWAYS IN MY HEART, WITH ALL MY LOVE,
YOUR DAUGHTER ROSEANN
