Today our nation celebrates the great institution of motherhood with sappy commercials suggesting you buy your mom flowers, candy and a card.
Well, I’m always late with those things and for the last 17 years or so I’ve always wished my parents a happy anniversary exactly two days late. April 7 seems like a great day for them to have gotten married. I haven’t always been the most thoughtful son either.
I’ve been rebellious and rambunctious and way too big for my britches from time to time. Sometimes you have to learn things the hard way. It must have been tough for my mom to stand aside and watch me go through the things I did, knowing she had the answer.
Life isn’t always a bed of roses, but it is what we make of it. For a while I made a mess of mine and periodically I would call and talk to Mom. Sometimes I would pour my heart out, but most of the time it was just small chitchat about this or that and a word of wisdom here or there. She would always end the conversation with I’m praying for you Paul.
I knew she was because that’s why I couldn’t sleep at night. So one time I told her that I wish she wouldn’t. That’s all it took for her to know that it was working. She told me that she’d start praying harder and she did.
See Mom had the answer all along. It wasn’t a box from home full of cookies, socks, or mementos. It was through my mother’s prayer that I finally found peace and the storm inside quieted down. It was a peace that I knew and tried to run away from. When I got tired of living like the devil I came back to church, a church I’d known all my life and found the peace my mother has known since I was a small child.
My mom didn’t have all the answers, but she knows who does. If it was not for my mother’s prayers I may not be here today and I sure wouldn’t be the man I am. I am forever thankful Mom for those prayers that kept me up all those nights. I love you with all my heart.
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Paul Barry is the managing editor and can be reached by email at paul.barry@vicksburgpost.com or by phone at 601-636-4545 ext. 123.