by Melinda Taylor
She was with me as I drew my first breath, and I was there when she drew her last. I miss her but a smile comes to me when I think of the way she lived her life. These are the lessons she taught us by the way she lived it.
Mom was a simple woman but the lessons she taught us were priceless.
Mom taught us the love of music and even in worst of times she had a song in her heart and on her lips.
Mom taught us honesty by her example. Even though us didn’t have much money we always paid our debts, even if it took years. I watched her walk to the funeral home each week to put $5.00 down on the funerals of my grandparents. She was so proud when she got it paid off.
Mom taught us when something knocked us down we could get up, shake ourselves off and start all over again. After all that was the way of the Peterson Women.
Mom taught us to laugh at ourselves and our mistakes. Nothing is so bad that a laugh couldn’t make it better. Mistakes can be repaired and as long as we learned by them it was a good thing.
Mom taught us kindness and gentleness. We watched her nurture people through the years. She always had the coffeepot handy and a listening ear. We saw the rewards of a life well lived in the Nursing Home in Menagha, Mn. The loving care she got from the staff. Whenever we go up there even today I hear the praises of the people she worked with.
Most of all she taught us how to love our families and friends well. There was always hugs and kisses and she always let us know how much she loved us and her love was unconditional.
Mom created wonderful memories for us and all her grandchildren. She left a legacy of joy, strength and love.
When she got to heaven and looked at the face of God I’m sure he opened his arms and said, “Welcome home my daughter. Job well done.”
Melinda Taylor, daughter of Gladys Lindroos, is a freelance short story writer.
She says of herself: I am an older woman that has been writing for a few years. I, just in the past year, found out that people like to hear the stories I write so I read one of them once a month to an older group of senior citizens. I love to write about the nature and beautiful things in life. I am currently trying to work on a meditation book called Reflections from my Porch. I live in Edina, MN and I am a woman’s advocate that works on my own. I have seven children and a host of grand and great-grandchildren.
Motherhood is a sacred thing, a bond like no other, and that’s what I took away from this. Lovely thought today.
Thank you. I wrote this shortly after my Mom passe away 8 years ago and I still miss her.
What a lovely tribute to your Mom. Our Moms are with us forever!!
Thank you. I wrote this shortly after my Mom passe away 8 years ago and I still miss her.
Your mom sounds like she was an exceptional mother. I know she is missed.
Thank you I still miss her and without her and the lessons she taught me I probably could not have survived some of the situations in my life.
It sounds like you had a beautiful relationship with your Mother and she taught you well. I still miss my mother after 29 years and her kindness, love and wisdom. I hope my daughter feels that way about me.
I am sure they do. Thank you. I wrote this shortly after my Mom passe away 8 years ago and I still miss her.
What a loving tribute to a very special mom.
Thank you. I still miss her
Thank you that she was!!
Beautiful. I lost my mom last year and miss her too. Yours sounds like a lovely woman. How blessed we both are to have had wonderful, strong, loving mothers.
Yes we are. Thank you
I am so proud of you. What a beautiful tribute to Mom. Love ya.
Love you too my Dear sister
This story by Melinda Taylor reveals how vital unconditional love is to create generations of thoughtful caring people. This sentence resonates: “Mom taught us to laugh at ourselves and our mistakes. Nothing is so bad that a laugh couldn’t make it better. Mistakes can be repaired and as long as we learned by them it was a good thing.” Thank you for sharing the love and laughter!
Thank you. I wrote this shortly after my Mom passe away 8 years ago and I still miss her. I was lucky to have her as a mother.
Melinda,
Such a beautiful tribute to your mom, and even thought I didn’t know her, I feel like I do because you are so much like the story you wrote.
Blessings,
Thank you Mary, Thank you for all the encouragement that you have given me through the years. I hope I am like my mom.
Hi Mom,
Just a note on here about your mom, and I know you are not my real mom, but all the times I was at the house you treated me like your own kids.
Just reading this story brought back memories about the times Danny and I would go up north and see the family, she was always smiling from ear to ear to see Danny walk through the door, I’m glad I had the pleasure to meet her and to call her grandma, a wonderful women
Thanks for writing this it brought tears to my eyes, remembering the time
Love you
Jerry
Hi Jerry, You were one of the kids that was around all the time and I will never forget you. I think of you and pray for you. You were one of the grandkids to my mom too and I am glad that you have the memories of her also. Love you Jerry