Ruminating on Mothers' Day

Ruminate [transitive verb]

1: to go over in the mind repeatedly and often casually or slowly

2 to chew repeatedly for an extended period

For the past several days I have been thinking about Mothers' Day.Here are a few of the thoughts that have come to my mind.

My Mother: Katherine "Pat" Hertle Temple

My mother is 90-years-young. Like me, she lives alone and, with the assistance of a few folks coming into her condo, she is self-sufficient. She lives in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, which is about 50 miles from me. It has been more than a year since I have seen Mom, primarily because I can't trust my 12-year-old Honda CR-V to make it there and back. I do, however, speak to her daily by telephone, one of the high points of my day.

I believe I am quite lucky to have a living mother. All of my grandparents were deceased by the time I was 8-years-old. My father died while I was studying in seminary in St. Louis 30 years ago. Mom is my primary living connection to my past. I love her dearly and pray that she has a wonderful Mother's Day!

Mothers

I think about those mothers who have sons and daughter serving in the military overseas, risking their lives each day. Thankfully, neither of my sons served in the military, so I don't know first hand the worry and traumatic thoughts a parent has knowing that their child is risking her/his life.  

My Dad and Mom at my commissioning as a U.S. Army officer in 1969

And, of course  there are those mothers who are separated from their children because they are serving their nation.

It must be difficult for any mother to be separated from her children, especially on Mothers' Day.

Surrogate Mothers

There is a line in the United Church of Christ Book of Worship's Prayer of Thanksgiving in the Order for Marriage that reads:

We thank you for our own parents, and for all, whether married or single, who are mothers or fathers to us, as we grow in the fullness of the stature of Christ.

As I grew, there were aunts and uncles who loved and parented me, teaching and giving me more than I can ever repay. I remember and thank them on this Mothers Day.

Al Jolson, Mammy, from The Jazz Singer

Please?