Been pondering on Mother’s Day, the day after the holiday, perched in the porch swing bird watching as the morning comes alive. The sky is dark blue and a few wisps of clouds are floating along like a beautiful school of fish swimming in a blue crystal bowl. When the cloud fish swam away, the sky stayed cloud free the rest of the day.

Was curious about bird mothers and research told me vultures are the most devoted bird mothers in nature. One article I read said the vulture’s relationship with death makes her a great mother. Ancient civilizations revered the vulture as a symbol of The Great Mother. The worst mothers are the brown-headed cowbirds who lay their eggs in other’s nests then fly off to let the nest birds raise their young.

Tonight’s sunset is a beautiful study in golden honey and pale lavender. As the sun rolled down a honeycomb colored horizon Mother Nature’s watercolor brushes were stroking the high clouds in shades of pale lavender. The honey colored clouds burst into a golden orange wildfire as the day ended. So relaxing to sit and watch Mother Nature create a magnificent sunset.

I’ve read quotes all day relating to mothers and Mother’s Day. I love what Erma Bombeck says about being a mother. “When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they’re finished, I climb out.” I love that! Mothers are such a powerful force and play such a important role in raising a child. William Makepeace Thackeray wrote in Vanity Fair, “Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children.” A mother’s love is so pure, you can see it in her eyes. Mitch Albom writes, “When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.”

I can remember vividly when I got the call from vet brother that my mama had died. I can hear his voice now. “Mama’s gone, baby, bring your family and come home.” So Chief and I gathered our children and drove back to Roanoke. We had gathered together the day before in Roanoke to celebrate our McMurray family Thanksgiving. Mama had taught me how to make a pecan pie that morning, giving me directions from her bedroom near the kitchen. She had congested heart failure and her doctor said she should not go to the dinner, but she went anyway determined to enjoy the day with her family. Maybe subconsciously she knew her life was ending. She was so weak, Chief helped carry her up the front stairs of vet brother’s home. She enjoyed her day with the family very much.

The next day my little family packed up and left for home in Alexander City. The last thing she told me when I hugged her goodbye was to tell Rosie she loved her. When we got home Chief told me, “Mama, you need to prepare yourself ‘cause your mother is not long for this world.” Mama died the next day and honestly for the first time I finally felt like an adult because I was no longer somebody’s child. Goldie Hawk says this so beautifully, “The truth is that no matter how old we are, as long as our mothers are alive, we want our mother.” I don’t think we ever not want our mothers. When I got the call that Rosie had been killed in a car wreck my first thought was how on earth will I call my mother and give her this news. Mama had been dead seven years but I still wanted her comfort and to hear her voice on the phone. Adriana Trigiani says, “No one worries about you like your mother, and when she is gone, the world seems unsafe, things that happen unwieldy. You cannot turn to her anymore, and it changes your life forever.”

Thinking of the importance of a mother’s advice, I asked my youngest if he could remember any advice I gave him as a young child. He immediately said, “Don’t touch the stove. It’s hot!” I know every mother has said that more than once. I’m still pondering on advice my mother gave me. She’d count Chief’s cigarette butts in the ashtray at my apartment in Alexander City and lecture me on letting him stay too late. Her advice was and it’s embarrassing, “Don’t let him spend the night, you won’t have a honeymoon.” Okay, we’ll leave that there!

As a mother I think our biggest accomplishments are our children. It doesn’t matter how old they are, they will always be our babies, and we’ll always be concerned and worry about them. If you are reading these words and are so fortunate to have your mother in your life, the greatest gift you can give her is to let her hear you say, “I love you! And I appreciate all you do for me.” Proverbs 31:31 reads, “Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise.”

“A mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.” — Cardinal Meymillod