Momma

So, how do you feel ‘bout your momma? Hopefully, you can say that y’all have a great relationship or at least a good one, because you just never know the turns of life…

This is me ’n my momma. Today was a good day to visit her, because tomorrow she might be overwhelmed with too many visitors. She has Alzheimer’s.

Momma was one of the many “June Cleaver’s” in Port Neches, Texas. In my eyes she was the perfect wife, even though I know there’s no such thing. She always loved her time with Daddy (and still does!) Rumor has it, they were attached at the hip. No, seriously. She was both the glue and a disciplinary figure in our family. That meant she’d say “Tell your daddy you’re sorry” or “y’all better make up” and simultaneously she’d be flippin’ pancakes and then turn around and whip our butts for not listening. Just an incredible multi-tasker. Ha! Ya got to respect a momma like that!

Well Momma, she was a good cook and loved to bake her homemade cakes ’n cookies. She was the best at celebrating our birthdays at home, because that’s how it was back then…just simple, small town fun in the backyard with your barefooted neighborhood friends. I can’t tell you how many parties my brothers and I had with the little plastic slide stuffed in our wee little plastic swimming pool. It was the smallest pool you’d ever seen in your life, but we didn’t know any better. It was life for many year until we got the “real” pool later. Momma just spent her life serving others until she retired from being the secretary at an elementary school. She was just the best at lovin’ on those kids who were always crawling up in her lap for a hug or a cry because they missed home. She was good at comforting.

I have to be honest, like I always am. (of course, daddy wouldn’t quite call it that.) It might be called “speaking your mind or something like that. Well anyway, unbeknownst to some, Momma ’n I weren’t real, real close. I was the middle child, and yooouuu know what that means? Yep, the poor, neglected black sheep of the family. Did y’all feel the same way, or was it just a fig of my imagination like my momma ’n daddy always have said?

So, anybody out there a middle child? If so, I want to hear from y’all, because I know we’ve just got to be on the same page. For you “chosen” first borns and the babies of the family, I don’t wanna hear from y’all, ok? No, I’m just kidding! Jace ’n Monte, did I live at y’all’s ballgames or what? Now, they won’t answer me, because they just don’t like social media. (Thank God, they would be totally embarrassed) By now, y’all need to say, “Calm down, Sista!” I know. I was getting a little worked up there. Let bygones be bygones. I’m fixin’ to preach on that, so…

Now let me get back to what’s more important…my sweet momma. Today, Momma doesn’t call me by name anymore, but she knows deep in her heart that there’s some sort of a connection between us. Lately she’s been walking the halls a lot. When I catch sight of her and her at me, I start to wave and say, “Hi, Momma!” When she walks closer to me, she starts to cry. Her frail little body falls into my arms and says, “Oh, I’m so glad to see you. It’s been a long time since we’ve been together!” Oh, how I love my momma.

As much as we try to pull away, the love between a momma and her kids is undeniably special. God planted that seed, and mommas cuddle their babies in their womb for months and months. It’s a beautiful picture to think about, and a undeniable miracle. There’s a bond like no other, and I’ll tell you, it never fades away. Even though my momma and I very seldom saw eye to eye, I love her and respect her more today than ever. She raised me, she corrected me when I needed it, and she always wanted us to do the right thing when it came to honesty and integrity.

As we celebrate Mother’s Day tomorrow across the globe, please let me share this with you…

If any of you still have your momma today, keep in touch with her, and simply don’t hold any bitterness or resentment from the past. It will eat you alive. Tell her you love her and that she’s the BEST Momma in The World even if you don’t think so. Find it in your heart to forgive and move forward. Life can be short sometime…

Love ’n Hugs to All You Awesome Momma’s Out There!!!