Mother’s Day | 2016

Mothers’s Day | May 2016

That one day of the year is coming. Mother’s Day. You know–the one that some women love, others dread, and some are unaffected by it at all: May 8th. Mother’s Day–and I have an idea. It’s nothing flashy, or fancy-shmancy. I wanted it to be simple and quick. [Sometimes simple is anything but quick.] But first–a story. Once upon a time ago I was in a gratitude famine–which means I didn’t have any.  It wasn’t scarce–it was gone. Absent. Missing. For whatever reason, there was a lot of growl in my heart. When I’m ungrateful for things in general it’s tough impossible to even pretend to be grateful for specific things–like a husband. Handsome Dude was the unsupsecting recipient of most of the growl. [Perhaps a little more suspecting a recipient than I suspected.]

Long, horrid story shortened considerably–I “learned” that not finding anything to be grateful for is quite different from not having anything to be grateful for. [Because how in the world can that ever be the case?]

‘Ungrateful’ wasn’t on the list of things I wanted to become when I grew up–but it was happening.

Blah. Hiss. Boo.

[This “once upon a time” happened before the days of Pinterest so there’s no way to link back to the original source.]

An idea was planted in my growly, ungrateful heart. I purchased a notebook [not a huge one–a really small one–3″ x 5″ maybe?] and began to write down one grateful thing a day about Handsome Dude. Anything. Initially, it was laborious. Eventually it became something I anticipated; the entries became more specific. Three or so weeks later, the little notebook was filled with gratitude–and so was my heart. On Christmas morning, I offered to read aloud the not-so-ordinary little notebook he found in his stocking. ~smile~

He still has it.

Somewhere.

Back to that one day of the year–Mother’s Day–and the simple idea.

Find something to write on.

Sticky notes. Index cards. A little notebook. Scrapbook paper. Just something to write on.

Next, find something to write with.

 

Pretty simple, huh?

[Please say you noticed the little dancing guy.]

If you’d like to add some color, gather a bunch of these:

All that’s left to do is write.

–What do you love about your mom?

–What does she do that you are thankful for?

–What’s she great at?

–Write a favorite memory.

–Share something you’ve learned from her.

–What do you admire about her?

The second a generous or grateful or kind thought comes into your head–write it down.

Seriously.

Or say it. That’s good too.

This world is filled with people who feel underappreciated. We do some crazy things sometimes when we feel unappreciated.

Maybe that’s just me.

~grin~

Once you’ve written down the generosity that comes flooding into your heart–give them to her. Don’t even wait until Sunday. Don’t even. How cool would that be?

If you wrote on sticky notes, stick those gems on mirrors, a refrigerator, inside cupboards, on the steering wheel, inside of a shoes, on a chair.

If you wrote on index cards, place them under a pillow, inside of a drawer, inside of a book she’s reading, under her plate at dinner, inside the refrigerator, on the counter top.

It doesn’t matter where you place them–her heart will be singing.

Give them to her all at once, or give them to her daily.

One more thing.

Wives and moms and mother hearts–write notes to each other expressing gratitude. We’re on the same team. ~smile~

My heart is still singing because of three generous and unexpected comments made last week. One from a sweet, sweet niece, and the others from dear unexpected friends (TBL & JBL).

And there you have it. A simple and quick idea for that one day of the year–that should really be that one year of days.

I would love to hear what you are planning to do to celebrate the mothers in your life.

And you know what? You could start a journal for your dad, a spouse, a sister…