I Thank My Mom

I want to thank my Mom.  I’d like to spend this day with her, but I can’t.  Not because she is gone, but because she chooses not to see me.  I’m the “black sheep” of my family.  I don’t follow their religious path, so I am shunned.

I want to thank my Mom.  In spite of all the negative memories I have, I also have positive ones.  I used to remember only the negative.  After training myself to seek positive, I’m starting to remember the good ones.  The negative ones hurt less.  Some don’t hurt anymore at all.

I thank my Mom

Breath in my lungs, blood in my veins

I thank my Mom

Teaching me to read at a young age

Importance of schooling and getting good grades

I thank my Mom

Cooking and cleaning to care for our family

Chores for me to share in the caring

The joy of cooking ignited at seven

I thank my Mom

First public speech shortly thereafter

I thank my Mom

Not giving up when tough times got worse

Generations of punishment passed through the ages

Punishment taught me right from wrong

Doing your best when I was in my dark times

Finding my inner strength to carry on

I saw the pattern and chose to change it

I thank my Mom

My first car

The lesson of persistence

Persistence garnered employment

Guiding me in budget and banking

I lay exhausted from two jobs and school

A blanket lovingly placed over me

Encouragement to volunteer

I thank my Mom

Shunning me because of religion

I stumbled, I fell, I wept, I went on

The lessons I was given helped me rise

I am a strong, intelligent, giving and powerful woman

I thank my Mom