…and so he made mothers.
And now, I find I have to resort to God quite frequently, especially when I have an argument in my head. The answers are also a little difficult to recognize and decipher because Mom had a voice. God moves in mysterious ways, her wonders to perform. What? You didn’t know God was a woman? Hmmph!
As it happens, every day is Mother’s Day for me. I had the best Mother in the world. I am lucky my son’s affection makes it a happy Mother’s Day for me each day. I am happy to admit that my life revolves around him just as my Mom’s life revolved around me.
My Mom was a teacher by profession. She was wise, loving, generous. Always cheerful even in the face of the worst times we had. She was also a wonderful writer and cook par excellence. Last year, while looking for a particular recipe, I found her diary and happily settled down to read. This prompted me to take down my box of letters and read the ones she’d written to me. My Mom wrote beautiful letters. Besides the usual stuff, her letters were full of wisdom. Each letter had a take-away. I’d like to share some of this wisdom here, because I think they make great quotes:
When she advised me to keep a journal:
My Mom wrote: “Diary writing is far more than a way of exorcising one’s unhappiness. The effect is extraordinary. Distanced on paper, troubles shrink to their true size. You can regard them objectively and see how temporary they are”
About the joy of letter-writing:
My Mom wrote: “When spoken words failed, written words kept us close” (Tweet this)
About reading:
My Mom wrote: “Books support us in our solitude and keep us from being a burden to ourselves” (Tweet this)
When my Mother left us on Feb 8, 2010, she seemed to take away so much with her. But I realized, as I looked back on life, that she also left so much within us. Which is why we talk about her everyday, and sometimes, it actually feels as though she is with us. Except we can’t physically touch her.
She had such a fabulous attitude and had the gift of viewing things positively, always. I remember, during the summer months, a lot of tiny ants turned up in our kitchen. Consequently, we would create little moats of water and keep food stuff safe from these ants. If, by chance, we left something on the counter top, we could rest assured that the place would be swarming with the little fellas.
Anyway, on one such occasion, there was a tray with water, in which we had kept some juice bottles. And our friends, the ants, managed to reach the rim of the tray, only to find the little strip of water stopping them from reaching the bottles. Now, mind you, the bottles are airtight. Yet, the tiny specks of the sweet syrups managed to get the ants there. Can ants smell? I don’t know.
So – back to our story. I don’t know what might have happened, but I think one of us must have accidentally kept one of the bottles very close to the rim of the tray. And, sure enough, these ants (probably the ones that qualified for the Olympic long jump) managed to get on the bottle. Which my Mom discovered the next time she went into the kitchen. She called me. As I entered the kitchen, I saw her hunched over the counter top, watching intently. She beckoned me close, as though the ants would hear her if she spoke, and pointed to the juice bottle. I was stunned to see the droves of tiny ants busily juicing it up.
All worked up, I opened my mouth to rant and my Mom burst out laughing. That stopped my laughter in its tracks and I looked at her, question marks all over my face. And she said, “Vidya – they’ve worked so hard to get there. Don’t you think they deserve it?”. That was so funny and of course, I laughed too.
From that day on, whenever we were careless enough to leave something on the counter top – or anywhere else and saw ants on it – we looked at each other and sedately said “They deserve it”. This applied to so many other things too.
Oh, the wonderful memories!
Today, on Mother’s Day, I especially value life and everything my Mother meant to me, taught me, nurtured in me. She influenced so many lives and it warms my heart to know that so many remember her with love, and tell me that they do. I am grateful to all of them. And I am grateful for all that she taught Vidur, my son, about kindness, value, love and being gentle. She adored Vidur.
And so, I share some photos that were very special to Mom:
She was very proud to give Vidur his first bath. He was eleven days old
And here is my bouquet to all my Mommy friends –
The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world!
And now, let us head off to the lovely Unknown Mami’s blog and give her a group hug, and travel the world from there, together.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Beautiful tribute Vidya!I always love reading more about your mom, and at some places she seems to much like my own mom :)The episode of the ant as you mentioned is something that will always remain with you lifelong. In the same way, their every lesson taught, values instilled, and their nurturing are so deep embedded within us.Wonderful pictures of you and your mom- I wish I had as many, and the ones I do are mainly lying with my dad and sister. I guess it’s a good reminder to get them uploaded and keep them with me.My mom was (also) the best mom anyone could have had in the world I think. And there can never be enough words written about mothers I think – because there’s so-so much to share and write about them- isn’t it?Wishing you and everyone a very Happy Mother’s Day! I think you are doing a commendable job of raising Vidur just the way your mom would have wanted you to. 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, Harleena. My Mother was my Mentor and best friend and there will never be another, our connection was so complete. I love sitting with my photo albums – and going down memory lane, especially together with Sury and Vidur. You’re right about how wonderful it is to share. Hugs and Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! We are lucky we had such great Moms.
Happy Mother’s Day all around.
Thank you, Wayne. Very much appreciated!
Firstly, Happy Mothers Day, dear Vidya! I can’t begin to tell you how beautiful this post was and how much it moved me. Your Mom was amazing! But I guess I don’t have to tell you that.
With many things on my mind, I take this with me and will use it to help me through —> “Distanced on paper, troubles shrink to their true size. You can regard them objectively and see how temporary they are”
I hold on to your mom’s wisdom. Troubles are temporary. Thank God and “her” wisdom as well.
Lovely lovely tribute to your Mom. Thank you for sharing!
XOXOs,
Terri
Dearest Terri, thank you for the lovely wishes. Happy Mother’s Day to you, too! I cherish my Mom’s diary which is full of beautiful words in her lovely handwriting. I am lucky she was my Mom. I owe her everything I am.
Love and hugs to you!
What a lovey tribute to your mom. I LOVE all her quotes and the ant story is priceless.
Happy Mother’s Day to you, Vidya!
Thank you, Keetha! She was remarkable and I am lucky to have so many fantastic memories! Happy Mother’s Day to you, too!
Both you and your mother are very wise and beautiful women.
Happy Mothers Day
Thank you, Del King! 🙂 Happy Mother’s Day to you, too!
What a special post and tribute to your mom. I feel like I know her in many ways. And the pictures are incredible!! Thanks, too, for the link! I don’t know if it was Mother’s Day in India today, but I hope you had a wonderful day since every day is Mother’s Day for you!! 🙂
I did, Betsy! 🙂 Yes, you would have loved meeting my Mom. She was such fun. I don’t think we have an India Mother’s Day – we just follow the US dates for these things. 🙂 Thank you so much for being here!
Hi Vidya,
Beautiful tribute to your mother. Love the quotes and pictures. How pretty you both are! Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day.
Thank you, Cathy! 🙂 I did. Hugs to you and wish you a lovely Mother’s Day!
Your mother soiunds like an incredibly wise woman!
Happy Mother’s Day to you 🙂
~ Lisa
Thank you, Lisa! Happy Mother’s Day to you, too and I am really happy you came by!
Lovely post and touching !
Thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Pattu!
A lovely post Vidya! Agree as god could not be present everywhere, he created mother:)
Yes, Rahul! So happy you came by!
I am in tears.
What a beautiful soul with such an amazing insight to the world.
Now everytime I see an aunt I’ll think the same thing too. Her memory will live in canada 😉
Xoxo
Happy mothers day to you
Hugs Kimberly! Everybody loved her, you know. Happy Mother’s Day to you!
Now I know from where you got the dazzling smile! Mothers indeed are the bedrocks on which a culture and a civilization are built. Since everyday is a mother’s day, I won’t wish you specifically on one day in a year. Hugs!
Hehe, Zephyr – my Mom was very pretty, yes. Sigh. Happy Mother’s Day to you! Am thrilled you came by!
–Beautiful. Heartbreaking. Tender. Funny. Sweet.
My heart filled up, Vidya.
I sooooooo much savored this post. Thank You.
You are definitely your mother’s daughter. Xxx MUCH LOVE FLoooowing.
Thank you, Kim. Love you right back! Oh, how i miss her!
Hi Vidya! I’m happy to have found your blog! I too missed my mother on Mother’s Day! You had such a beautiful relationship with your mother too! I remember fondly laughing with Mom. I can relate, too, to wanting to hear her voice though I do feel her close in spirit.
I’m glad you had a good Mother’s Day with your son! I was happy when my son arrived home a day early and was here for Mother’s Day.
Lori
Welcome, Lori! It is great to have you here! 🙂 Mothers are the best. My friend used to say that no matter whose approval we got, the final approval that really mattered was our Mother’s. 🙂 Happy day to you, too! Do come again!
Your mother was obviously very wise and very loving. It is also obvious that she instilled the same in you. Happy Mother’s Day to you today and every day.
🙂
Traci
Thank you, Traci! I cherish her memories. Happy Mother’s Day to you, too!
Your mother was a phenomenal woman. I hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day. You reflect so much of your mother’s wisdom.
Claudya, Mom meant everything to me. She was such a wonderful influence. I was a also lucky that Sury was just as fond of her and that Vidur had the chance to grow up with her for twelve years. Sigh. We all miss her every day!
This is an absolutely beautiful tribute to your mom, Vidya! Loved it!
Thank you! 🙂
What a beautiful tribute to your mother! Wonderful post, Vidya!
Thanks again! 🙂 Glad you’re here!
Wow, your mom was wise and wonderful. What a tribute you are to her, and Vidur as well. Happy Mother’s Day, every day, Vidya.
Thank you dearest Pamela! 😀 Same to you!