A Real Treasure

You know those every day things that are really quite amazing and remarkable, but that we tend to take for granted all the time.  Like a hot shower.  Or a well working vacuum cleaner.  Or an oven that cooks things at just the right temperature.  There are countless things like these in my life.  They are such a part that it's easy to forget how truly wonderful they are and how much of a blessing they are to me.

I hate to admit it, but I tend to slip into the same attitude regarding one of the most amazing blessings God has gifted me with.  My mom.

It can sound cliche.  Especially at Mother's Day.  We hear the same thing over and over.  "Thanks for always loving me.  Thanks for giving birth to me.  Thanks for feeding me, clothing me and taking care of my owies."  It is very legitimate to be thankful for these things, but I have a truly tremendous mother, and today I just wanted to share just a few of the specific things that I'm thankful to her for.

Thank you, Mom, for having high standards for us.  Thank you for not adjusting those standards to accommodate an "easier" relationship with us.  Thank you for teaching us to not compare others to our standards nor to look down on others with different choices.

Thank you for learning in front of us.  For apologizing when you made mistakes and for letting us reap the harvest of lessons you were learning.  Thank you for the honest communication we share to this day.  For the ability to speak my heart and hear yours without fear.

Thank you for your enthusiasm and excitability.  Silly as it may seem,  I'm so glad that I've learned to rejoice greatly in life.  Sharing news with you is always a joyous occasion, and I always anticipate it greatly.

Thank you (and Dad!) for whole-heartedly cheering on David and I as a family and not "expecting" us to remain a part of your family unit.  Thank you for the 100% honest support you have shown us every single day.  Your encouragement, helpfulness and generosity is an irreplaceable asset to us, one I cannot imagine being without.  Your willingness and service to me is overwhelming and I am severely lacking in offering the thanks it deserves.

Thank you for truly loving our girls.  For delighting in them, praying for them, watching over them, and for not only supporting our choices in how many to have, how to train them etc., but in cheering us and aiding us whenever possible.  Trusting you with our girls totally and completely is such a rare blessing.

There are MANY more things I could go on about, but I wanted to make sure I at least covered a few.  I love you Mommy!  Thank you for being such a treasure to me!