AOL is displaying a tasteless, idiotic headline today:  “Turning Into Your Mother?  Sure, you adore Mom, but you don’t want to be her mirror image.” 

Well, I beg to differ.  I could not hope to do better than reflect my mother’s character.  Anyone who reads my blog regularly knows what an especially compassionate and giving mother I have.  I am truly blessed to be her daughter.

I have never known a more unselfish person than my mother.  She has laid down her life for me countless times.  Many a time, she has gone without to help supply our needs.  We would not be living in this home, on this property, were it not for my mother.  She gives without even thinking about it.  “Let me help you,” is her first impulse.  She says it is her pleasure to help me, even though I know it is not without sacrifice on her part.  And I’m not the only daughter she gives to!

I could not have special-ordered a better mother, or a better grandmother for my children.  She is an example to me, and to them, and I only hope I can be half the mother to my children that she has been to me.  She told me that she was pretty much on her own when we were babies, and she promised herself she would never let that happen to her girls.  Mom has more than fulfilled that promise!  I remember when Chicken was born, it was Mom who flew up to Chicago and helped me through those rough first days.  With the birth of each child, Mom has been there caring for me and helping me.  Of course, she prays for me and my whole family continually as well.  And the Lord answers her prayers!

Yesterday was our little celebration together and--of course--Mom supplied all the food!  We watched the Chronicles of Narnia together.  Today she is celebrating with my sister. 

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!  I love you very much!

Of course, this entry would not be complete without telling the world about my wonderful mother-in-law.  Mama C. is as much a giver as my own mom.  She has been so good to me, her daughter by marriage.  As my readers are aware, I would not be drying my clothes right now without Mama C.’s help!  In fact, I would not be washing my clothes without her help, either!  But I owe her most for the fine man she brought up, whose wife it is my privilege to be.  He loves and praises his mother, and he is like her in many ways. 

Mama C. is:  genuine, unpretentious, generous, a faithful and loyal friend, encouraging, hard-working, always on the go, always caring about the helpless and the poor.  For many years, she worked for the SPCA, and many homeless animals found their way to hers.  For even more years, she has been a social worker, caring for the elderly and the poor.  She has been a foster mother to troubled kids.  And of course, she is such a loving, generous, sympathetic grandmother to my children.  Not a birthday passes without a special something for each one of them, and we so look forward to her visits, wherein the children get their fill of hugs and cuddles.  I am so blessed to have married into such a fine family, and to have a mother-in-law who is so kind to me!

Happy Mother's Day, Mama C.!

My mother and mother-in-law also like each other!  Isn’t that great?  J  That tells you what special people they are.