In honor of Mother’s Day, I want to pay homage to my dearly departed Momma. I’ve written many blogs about her, as she was worthy of putting pen to page. She was a larger-than-life personality who took over every room she entered. She also sucked at nurturing. But as I became a mom myself, I realized that there are no perfect mothers, and the legacy she left is still momentous and enduring, despite her shortcomings.
One pearl of wisdom she shared was, “This, too, shall pass.” She also chirped, “Terr, you worry too much; live a little,” while making light of the impending doom I was droning on and on and on about at the time.
That phrase, “This, too, shall pass” has been a beacon in my life, especially now. When things in my teenage years seemed bleak, and I would cry into my pillow about some boy not calling or asking me to a dance, she would say, “This, too, shall pass.” When I would win a horse show and crow about how great I was, she’d quip, “Good for you, honey. But this, too, shall pass.” This phrase has been the great equalizer in my life. No matter how amazing or devastating circumstances seemed, they would soon return to homeostasis, or what I determined to be normal.
Right now, things seem really off-kilter and weird. Everyone is a little cranky and moody, at best, and sick and listless at worst. In my gentlest kindest voice, hear me whisper, “This, too, shall pass.” I don’t know when that will happen, but sooner than you think, we will be knee deep in miracles big and small, happy and frustrating.
That’s the beauty of listening to your mother. Even when we think she’s hopelessly out of touch and endlessly annoying, she will leave you with a gem of an idea that shapes your everything.
This Mother’s Day, don’t forget to hug your mama, or your gramma, if you’re that lucky, and tell them what they mean to you. Sit a minute and listen to that story about that thing for the eleventy-ninth time and bask in the glow of wisdom and love, because, in the blink of an eye, this, too, shall pass.
XO
Terri
P.S. If anything in this blog moved you, message me at terrif@findyourpride.org and tell me all about your mama’s best lines. It would make my day!
