Why Showing Mom Gratitude Is Good For Her..And You!

In just a few days, May 11th 2014, Mother’s Day will be celebrated once again worldwide. It is usually an extra-ordinary, joyful occasion when the celebrants go above and beyond to ensure that those whom they celebrate and honor are left with priceless memories of the occasion that is second to none.

On the other hand, for many of us, I am certain this continues to be a time of bitter-sweet moments. We look on at those who are able to celebrate and honor their Moms, while deep within we yearn through our emotions and if not controlled, the emotions can get the best of us.

Then where society has led people to think that the only way one can be considered to be a mother is by virtue of them conceiving and nine months later give birth to that child, there are women among us who feel left out simply because of their struggle through the years with infertility.

You also find where there is not a happy relationship or where there is an existing separation between a child and their Mother, it can be an equally painful and unbearable time, just as much as it being a happy ending where God’s grace can lead to a place of reconciliation and peace among them.

For us whose Moms are deceased though, it is at that pivotal moment we remember them and almost immediately, we miss them.

[Fighting back my tears right now] We understand the importance of having our Mom in our life, right by our side. We realize how prudent, wise and protective she was of us.

We miss her kindness. We miss her nurturing, her loving, caring and unselfish spirit – giving of herself constantly without ever looking for a reward in return.

We reflect on the many things that she taught us – the values she instilled in us, the reverential, holy fear of the Lord that she taught  us and encouraged us to uphold.

We recall her dedication, her hard work, and the countless times/hours she sacrificed of herself just so that we were provided for and taken care of.

Some of us were fortunate to have her take care of our children and to see her on bend knees as she prayed to God for us. But above all, we remember her legacy of faith, hope and love she left us with. Read: She Builds A Legacy Then Pass It On

And so, whether your Mom is alive or have passed on, these things are priceless for which we could never repay our Moms for.

THANK YOU IS FAR MORE PRECIOUS THAN BUYING HER A GIFT

Today, my heart feel sad and broken, simply because of my time of reflection of the last nine days of my Mother’s life in February 2002 as she laid there on her dying bed. As much as I hate to admit, I must confess that I missed the opportunity to say three very important things to her.

And as much as I hate what this is doing to me to speak about it, I feel it is important to say them…..

3 things I missed not telling my Mother

1. I love you
2. I appreciate you
3. Thank you for all that you have done in this life for me

As you can imagine, this is now a huge wake up call for me and an important lesson worth sharing….and learning before it is too late. It is for this cause that I make a case for bringing gratitude back to the center of Mother’s Day.

Not only is it the right time but it is the perfect opportunity to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. This is not me being self-serving, self centered or me trying to minimize the expression of love through cards, flowers, gifts, the new dress, a day at the spa or the salon…but it is for us to consider making Mother’s Day another occasion, in addition to Thanksgiving Day to encourage and express gratitude – to make the good things in life we often take for granted to stand out and to give thanks to the people who make those things happen for us each day, especially Mothers.

You might not have tomorrow to say ‘thank you [name here] for all you have done in this life for me,’ but you have the time called now and the opportunity today to say the words from your heart.

Mothers and those other persons, [you know who they are] deserve to know they give meaning to my/your life. They deserve to know that I/you think the world of them. They deserve to know how much they are appreciated in just these two simple words, ‘THANK YOU.’

Mothers must be made to feel the bliss and the joys of motherhood. Those who have become Mothers by way of adoption, and by a surrogacy arrangement or even those who are considered spiritual mothers, we must make them proud, celebrate them and express gratitude as much to them.

The benefit of gratitude being practiced daily in our lives is phenomenal! It is a way of making our children grateful and to hold them accountable from at a very young age. The focus has to be more about people and the relationships that sustain them through life more than it is about clothes, toys and electronic gadgets.

As documented here before, gratitude is an expression of quality and an improvement to life for everyone. This quote by Dr. Robert Holden sums it up best when he said:

The miracle of gratitude is that it shifts your perception to such an extent that it changes the world you see.”

The outcome is that those who practice gratitude have better mood, they are more optimistic and have better social and intimate relationships. They have also found that grateful teens have in common higher life satisfaction, better grades and they are more engaged with school hobbies. Read also: Making Grateful Kids: The Science Of Building Character by Jeffrey Froh and Giacomo Bono So there you have it, gratitude causes everyone, including children to see things differently.

Feeling grateful and appreciated are now the new two sides to the coin we must see this and every day.

YOUR TURN…

• Was this post helpful? 
• What stood out the most for you?
• What memories do you have of Mother’s Day as a child growing up?
• What are some of the things you do to make your Mom feel appreciated?

Will you join me in the cause to make a case to bring gratitude back to the center of Mother’s Day and to show why gratitude is not just good for Mom…but for you and your children too?

photos courtesy Freedigitalphotos.net