Friday, November 15, 2013

My Mother's Lap

My Mother's Lap

I have so many wonderful memories of the loving relationship I had with my Mom when I was growing up. I am always reluctant to allow myself to get too deep in remembering them all as it hurts far too much.

But of all the ...memories I cherish, it is the memory of always laying my head in her lap whenever I needed her. It was the safest place to be when my heart was broken. It was a place to go to when I needed to feel comfort and cherished and loved. There was no other place like it when I was scared or hurt or feeling lonely. I can still feel her soft hands stroking my hair and the sweet sound of her voice telling me how much she loved me and her promise that everything would be okay. And it just was. Everything was okay and all was well in the world when I heard those words and felt her warm touch.

And later...when I was a grown woman and life had dealt me a broken heart or presented me with an ultimatum I couldn't handle, I would run to her for those comforting moments, time and time again. It was where I needed to be, and no matter how grown up I really was, for those moments I was her baby again and she was my angel and my refuge and my safe haven. No matter how much pain or what it was that was hurting me, I knew I could get through it with her reassurance that I would be okay.

Of all the memories in my lifetime, those will forever be the most precious to me. Those times are what I long for and yearn for so often. Those times are gone now and the void is so overwhelming at times, it takes my breath away. Life still throws some curve balls and gives me some tough challenges and I still need so much to hear her tell me it will be okay. Sometimes, if I close my eyes tight and drown out the world, I can get lost in my memories of her and I can almost feel her hands stroking my hair.

Oh how ironic this journey of life can be... for little did I know that one day I would be comforting her and stroking her hair as she lay dying. And I would whisper those same words for the last time. "I love you Mom... more than life itself and I cannot bear the thought of going on without you. But I will be okay and I'll see you again. You can go now to a better place. I promise you everything will be okay."

~Marty
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2 comments:

  1. What a wonderful, loving, thoughtful memory to share! My Mama is still here, thank goodness, and I still tell her how I would lay my head over on her arm while we were in church as a child. I thought there was nothing better. So much comfort. I, too, used to put my head in her lap when I didn't feel well. I can only hope my son and grand children will have to same warm, loving memories of me. There is indeed nothing like a mother's touch.

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  2. Hang on to those wonderful memories. My mother has been gone 21 years, and I still miss her. One of my best and earliest memories is watching her make bread, the smell of the yeast and the warmth of the oven. I was very young, I had been napping on a blanket and pillow on the floor where it was warm and woke to her kneading the dough. No one can ever replace your mother.

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