Mother’s Day, 2026. This year is a first for me. I’ll turn 64 soon, and it’s the first time I can’t see or talk to my mom on her special day. Still, I’m grateful. For more than 23,000 days, Mama was there. Unconditional love is a blessing, even if we don’t always recognize its presence.
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Over the years I’ve crossed paths with many who lost their mothers at an early age. A small percentage never knew their mom. Because of medical progress, it’s now rare for mothers to die in childbirth, unlike in the past. Some lost their moms far too soon to accidents or illness. Most people I know lost their moms later in life from natural causes. In the South, we refer to this as “old age,” a number rising rapidly due to those medical advancements. A few friends in my generation still have their moms with them, at least physically. I trust they recognize this blessing.
Sadly, there are those whose moms are living but no longer part of their lives. The stories are “complex,” and never having endured such pain, I can only show empathy for their situation. Maybe time and understanding will lessen the distance because it’s never too late to recoup a motherly bond.
What I would give to have just one more conversation with my mom. There are questions I’d like to ask. Some she probably answered when I wasn’t paying attention. Others, we never discussed. Maybe we did, but again, I might have heard her, but wasn’t listening. “You need to listen to your mother,” was a phrase I recall both jokingly and with a serious tone. I would treasure telling her one more time how much I love her and how much she meant to me. I know it would make her smile, and it would warm my heart, too. There’s a lesson here; always listen to your mom.
With Mama after service at Savannah Methodist Church.
Don’t get the wrong impression because this isn’t a sad occurrence. I will admit that I did spend ten or fifteen minutes feeling sorry for myself early that morning. It had been two, maybe three years since I visited her on Mother’s Day. In reality, the mid- May date never mattered. Every day was Mother’s Day. I just didn’t realize it at the time.
My daughter spent time with her mom and other grandmother. That simple gesture brought gratitude to my soul. Like the years I wasn’t physically present for Mother’s Day, I’m sure my son called his mom and, hopefully, sent her a card with a sincere message. Even when words escape us or we can’t find the right ones to express our feelings, we can always count on the writers at Hallmark to find the proper tone.
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Today is a good day. Why? Because I know she’s in Heaven and has been in the presence of her Lord and Savior for over four months. In the scheme of eternity, that’s not even a milli-second. For many of us, it seems much longer. As the song title conveys, I Can Only Imagine.
Her positive attitude and support, even in the most pressing times, still encourages me. I’ll never forget her bright smile, always waiting at the door when we came home, whether we’d been gone for months or just out for a quick errand. And if I’m completely honest, I could use her advice today.
Even though I can’t hear it directly, I found some peace, sitting on a sandy beach with the late-afternoon sun shimmering like her bright eyes. I also found comfort when I chatted with Jesus. Mama, you knew Him from a young age, and you became even closer over the years. I’m blessed and grateful you introduced us too.
Jesus and I still have a lot to talk about. Like you were, He’s always there, ready to listen to my joys and struggles. I’ve even asked Him to bring you into our conversations when the time is right, just so you can listen one more time. Now, even in the middle of chaos, my heart can find a smile.
Thank you, Mama, for everything. Please give my love to Daddy, Andrea, and Daniel, and to Grandmama and Grandaddy too. Even those family members I never met. We’ll talk again soon, and I’ll see you later.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mama. I love and miss you.