Life is Beautiful, Full and Sweet

It has been an action packed week of having my parents here, and two days with my brother and sister-in-law along with their two sweet girls visiting.  The days have been full, and our fun often flowed well into the night.

Now that it is Sunday evening, Mother's Day, and my parents are on an airplane home back to Calgary, my brother with his family are on the ferry-boat back to their home, and my two gorgeous boys happen to be out at a park; I find myself sitting in the stillness of our apartment all alone.

I am able to just relax and bask in the afterglow of a weekend filled with family love, and a beautiful day to celebrate motherhood in conjunction with being a child.  As I put my feet up, it occurs to me that our days go by all too quickly, and the years disappear in the blink of an eye.

I am reminded to live each day as if it were the last and best day of my life.
For truly today is the only one we have, and I'm sure that those days where I am successfully able to live in this way, will indeed be looked upon as the best days of my life!
For life is a divine mystery, and each moment is beautiful, full, and sweet, if we have the eyes to see, the ears to hear, and the heart to feel the very pulse of life itself.

Something Special For Mother's Day:

Your Mother is always with you.  She is the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.  
She is the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick, the fragrance of life itself.  She is the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well.  She is your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colours of a rainbow; she is Christmas morning.  
Your mother lives inside your laughter.  She is the place you came from, your first home, and she is the map you follow with every step you take.  She is your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you not time, not space... not even death.

~ Author Unknown ~  

Love for Moms

In India your Mother is your first Guru.  Mothers are honoured and given the highest respect.  It is incredible to experience the transformation from woman to mother in the land of India, as your status in society is immediately elevated with the birth of your first child.

Motherhood is a privilege reserved exclusively for women, and the ability to nurture and bring forth new life is a manifestation of Shakti (divine power) and is thought to be a great gift inherent in the female form.

I adore the way becoming a Mother is esteemed in India.  Culturally, I don't think we have the same reverence for our Mothers here.  I think many women feel becoming a mother will ruin their independence and depress their lifestyle.  We don't tend look at Mothers with the same eyes of admiration and respect, and instead many women are made to feel marginalized and no longer desirable after they have children.

However, Mother's Day is definitely an exception to the norm.  This is one day where we collectively stop and take the time to appreciate and honour our Mothers.  We give thanks for all the sacrifices they made, all of the organizing, driving, cooking, cleaning, volunteering, loving, and nurturing.  We make an intentional gesture to show our deep love and gratitude for their steadfast patience and endless hours of devotion to us over so many years.  No matter how old we are, to our Mother we will always be a small child, and she will love us as much as she did on the day we were born, and probably much more.

So today I am going to thank my Mother for being my first home, my arms refuge, and constant defender.  Thank you for your endless hours of time and energy you poured into all of my hopes and dreams over the years.  Thank you for sacrificing your own needs and desires to answer my every wish and prayer.

Thank you for always seeing the good in me, even when it was covered in a cloud of darkness, and for always giving me the best advice, even when I didn't ask for it.  I know we might not always see the world the same way, and that I don't always remember to say "thank you" or "I love you" but you are my first Guru and teacher and I am ever grateful for your presence and guidance in my life.

Now that I am a Mother myself, I can appreciate your dedication and devotion to your family so much more, and your generous heart and unconditional love is a daily inspiration for me in my own journey through Motherhood.

I Love You Mom.  Happy Mother's Day!