I think one of the greatest blessings we can give others is unconditional love.
Unconditional love gives without expecting anything in return.
Today is my mom’s birthday. I realize I am biased but my mom is the most selfless, loving, caring person I know.
Unconditional love is the greatest gift she could have ever given me. Unconditional love can not put a roof over my head or food on the table but yet it does… indirectly, by giving me the confidence and courage to work hard at the things that do. Receiving unconditional love provides a more positive self image. Unconditional love teaches you how to love and give to others. Unconditional love provides me with a sense of security and stability. Unconditional love feels good.
I believe all of the goodness that I have received, all the troubles I’ve encountered, every minute of my life has been planned by our heavenly Father since before I was even conceived. I also believe because of the unconditional love I have received from my mom and dad from my first breath on earth has been influential in how I handle the path God has laid out for me.
This trip down to see mom was not scheduled to celebrate her birthday. It was not planned to be a vacation of all fun… even though we always manage to have fun regardless. 🙂 Why did I come down? It was planned to help mom move my almost 99 year old grandma (my mom’s mom) out of her assisted living place and in with my mom. My spry little granny has outlived her money and financially can no longer afford to stay at her current location.
So yes, today I’m celebrating my mom’s birthday with her but even more importantly in the midst of moving I’m thinking about and celebrating the never ending unconditional love she shows to me and so many others.
Moving down to the Villages full-time about 4 years ago was my mom’s new beginning… a fresh start in a new location. She was getting out of her comfort zone, meeting new people, joining new clubs and enjoying activities she never had before. It made my heart so very happy. She had a life that was all her own and was doing everything she wanted and more.
A couple years ago grandma moved down to the Villages and the time mom has devoted to grandma has caused mom to be removed from groups she joined because of her lack of attendance. Mom no longer has a routine of her own and I’m sure her limits have been tested in many ways. But through it all mom does everything with a level of patience and understanding that I don’t think I’d ever be capable of. She does it all with unconditional love.
Now mom is embarking on a new beginning… a beginning that includes being grandma’s full-time caretaker. It’s gonna rock both of their worlds. At 98 years old, change is very difficult and I know will be challenging for grandma. As for my mom, a widow who has been on her own for 25 years, not only living with someone else permanently but adding the care taking tasks to that… well there will be plenty of challenges ahead for her.
How can you help me celebrate my mom’s birthday? Prayer. Please pray for her. This is a season of life that she’s told me many times that she is thankful for. Thankful to have this time to try to make grandma’s last days, weeks, months, years on this earth happy ones. I know she’s up for the challenge but as her daughter I worry about the toll this is gonna take on her. Please pray that grandma Toya can find the positives in each day and appreciates the effort my mom is putting forth. Pray that they both can handle this transition smoothly. Pray that my mom can get some assistance allowing her breaks, strength to create boundaries beneficial to both of them, humor to handle the challenges, find joy in the small victories, and patience to handle this new chapter.
As we celebrate mom today, I thank her for her love. Her unconditional love makes this world a better place. She sure makes my world an amazing one!
I love you mom!
XOXOXO,
Your favorite (who cares if I’m your only) daughter
Heather is the owner of Sweet Lemonade Photography and co-owner of Sweet Darling Weddings located in central Illinois (Mahomet). Life gave her a bunch of lemons (you can read a little more here) and by keeping her focus on God, finding the positive in each day, and surrounding herself with supporting, loving and encouraging people she has turned those lemons into the sweetest lemonade. This blog has been created to share her heart, her adventures and find ways to bless others. You can contact her at heather@sweetlemonadelife.com.
