Way Beyond the Gift of Her Chromosomes

I was told by my mom that as a child I would sometimes ask, “Do you love me?” Mom admittedly shared that on occasion her reply was, “Off and on.”

I have no reason, whatsoever, to doubt my mom’s love of me. Since her death in November 2011, I continue to experience mom’s presence. I don’t think this is unique to me but similar to the experience of others following the death of their own moms.

My mom, often comes to mind, and I feel her presence when I discover new recipes, fashion trends or books with wonderful stories and I find myself thinking, “You’d like what I found.”

Perhaps, more frequently, her presence is evident in my life through her continued influence on my way of thinking and my manner of being. I inherited so much more of who I am from her than my chromosomes.

Mother’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to offer a gracious thank you for the influence of our mothers or those other special someone’s who ‘mothered’ us and continue to shape who we are.

Nancy Wales, CSJ