"He'll never buy the cow if he gets the milk for free."
"Don't stick your lip out - a bird will poop on it."
"Butt is a cuss word."
"If it's meant to be, it will all work out."
"Crystals? Hmm... sounds New Age-y."
"What would you do if this semi suddenly lost control and all of those concrete cylinders rolled off?"
"You can't have a pet turtle, you'll get salmonella."
"Don't eat raw cookie dough, you'll get salmonella."
"You might want to hug a grizzly bear, but that would be unhealthy for you... some people are like that too."
"Don't pick up strangers with Olivia in the car."
"Gargle salt water."
"Bermuda shorts."
"Always bleach your bath towels."
"You'll know better next time."
I've been listening to her voice my entire life, and now even when she's not here, I open my mouth and her words come out. The woman has a lot to say, and she generally says it pretty quickly. Imagine how much she's managed to tell me in the last 24 years; I know her words will be in my head as long as I live. Some of them will be what keeps me sane, and some of them will forever make me laugh.
But I've been realizing lately that my mom's legacy has less to do with the things she's said and more to do with the example she's lived. See, even though I've been listening to her my whole life - I've been watching her just as long. I've watched her cook, put on her makeup, fold laundry, drive a car, mop a floor. I've watched her cry, pray, laugh, greet an enemy, grieve a loss, make impossible decisions. Sometimes I think the most important things she taught me were things she did instead of said. Someday I will forget the things she said, but I will always remember the way she lived.
Dear moms, if you feel like they're not listening - you might be 100% right. But those stinking kids are still watching you, and your efforts are not in vain. Thank you to all the mothers who live out the call of Christ in their daily lives, even when it's tough.
Mama of mine: thank you for your warmth, your laughter, your awful impressions and your rad dance moves. Thank you for teaching me how to tie my shoes, use a toilet, apologize, how to mow the lawn, paint my toes, spell my name, do what's right, work hard, how to love others, how to live like Jesus and thank you for praying through the days when I was not good at these things. Thank you for your hugs, your faith in me and for insisting that I know how to do my own laundry. It is by the grace of Jesus and your love that I am not a stripper.
Love you Ma - Happy Mother's Day.
- Emily
Also... We're still verrrryyy photogenic.
