I want to share a little bit about what I’ve learned about being and LDS woman and about motherhood from my mother since we’re so close to Mother’s Day. As Jane Austen wrote in Persuasion, she is “too modest for the world in general to be aware of half her accomplishments,” especially since some of her most important accomplishments have taken place inside the quiet workings of her own home. She has been my example for years; here are just a few of the things she’s taught me.
I’ve learned to trust her opinions. Mom is real. She’s genuine, caring, and up front about life, choices, and consequences. She doesn’t mind spelling out the situation truthfully, and I’ve come to really appreciate that from her. And she always shares what insights she’s gained from her experiences without making you feel like you’re getting a lecture. It’s the perfect blend.
I’ve learned what I want my home to be like. We’re taught that our homes are among the most sacred places on Earth, and I know I feel that when I go home. Mom’s house isn’t the picture-perfect abode from the pages of Better Homes & Gardens, it’s just a comfortable, welcoming place all of us kids want to be. It’s a place of safety and love. Everyone’s welcome, and everyone must treat others with respect there. It’s the rule.
I’ve been counseled to make my home much like my mother’s home, and everyone who has been in Mom’s home no doubt knows why. Mom’s home has been a refuge over the years, and it continues to be for many people.
Or maybe it’s Mom herself who is the refuge. She has a way of making you feel safe, validated, and listened to. But it’s more than that. She has a genuine love for people, and you feel it every time you talk to her. No matter who you are. It’s an amazing gift.
I’ve had many people tell me how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman as my mother. Trust me, I know.
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