 |
|
| About ten years ago my husband had a week long school to attend at Mississippi State. It was summer so I went with him to lay around in the sun at the pool, eat and shop. It was to be a wonderful week long vacation for us. Our youngest had been giving us fits and he had finally went to stay with my mom in Louisiana. The weather was great, Jay and I were having a ball; he got out of school every day around 2-3 p.m. and the rest of the day was ours. We went to movies, ate out, and I read a lot lying by the pool. I had noticed this young woman a couple of times before, as she struggled to lead five little children behind her like ducks. I would say they ranged in age from about eight to just a baby she carried. She always had a smile on her face no matter how hot or how trying the situation was getting all five of these kids in tow. I had seen them up in the early morning out picking flowers by the school, swinging, sliding down the slide. I remember thinking how glad I was that I had only two and both grown for all practical purposes. I would catch myself looking for her everyday, and just knowing that sooner or later, I would see the "real" woman come out. You know, screaming, yelling spanking, telling them how fed up she was with their behavior. But, that never happened. Her husband was in my husband's class and I asked him what kind of guy he seemed to be. My husband thought a few minutes and said, "Well, he doesn't say much, and if he does it usually concerns his wife or children." Well so much for the theory that she was a brow beaten wife. On the next to last day of the trip, I happened to be sitting out near one of the rose gardens when I saw her walking toward me. I smiled and she smiled in return. Behind her came the five little ducks and I thought, " My GOD how does she stand it?" As she came closer to me, I looked up at her and with a laugh said, "My Goodness you have your hands full with this crew!" She stood there and looked at me for a moment and then the most lovely glow filled her face. "No," she said, "I prefer to say I have my HEART full." Well, that shut me up ( which is hard to do.) I looked at her, and I knew that she meant every word of that one sentence. We chatted awhile about our husbands, kids, and life in general; then she was gone. I never saw her after that, but have thought of her many times over the years. What a positive attitude. What a wonderful mother. I have often thought of her as a kind of role model, although I don't think I quite ever measured up. But, wherever you are out there in this big world, I want you to know that you made quite an impression on this old hard nosed gal, and that I pray all your children are safe and sound. I hope you and your husband still speak as fondly to and of each other, I hope that you're still smiling. But, most of all, I wanted to say, "Happy Mother's Day" to one of the most wonderful mothers I have ever had the honor of meeting. Kathalise Martin
|