Letter #5: To My Mom

For the last several months I’ve been reflecting on the fact that I turned 35 this year.  It seems like a “halfway point” of sorts, and I’ve decided to spend the next year thanking 100 people who have made a real difference in my life.  I also plan to post each letter on my internet blog (www.sacredstones.net) because I want to publicly share how each person has influenced my life.  You might even call this a “reverse eulogy”—why wait until someone’s gone to tell them what they mean to you?

The order of the letters is not necessarily important.  At times I may skip between family, friends, teachers, pastors and others who will receive letters.  The important thing is that you’ve made a big difference in my life.

This is letter #5.

December 29, 2009

Dear Mom,

I’ve had this project in mind since the summer, but from the beginning decided that I’d wait until your birthday to send your letter. So happy birthday!

This may be my hardest letter to write.  After all, who impacts a person’s life more than their mother?  And how can someone like me, who has been blessed with a wonderful Mom, even attempt to put into words how much she means?  It can’t be done.  So instead of trying to say everything, I thought I would say a few of the most important things.  Specifically, here are a few of the most important things you have taught me in life:

1. Care about God.  The most important way you influenced Donnie and I was taking us to church as kids.  That one single thing, week in and week out, has totally changed the course of our lives. I know it wasn’t always easy to get us to church, and I recall a few times when I stayed home to watch Sunday morning wrestling on TV (I don’t recall why wrestling seemed to appealing to me then).  More than anyone else, you are the reason why I am able to teach at a Christian school today, doing what I love.  And if God has used me to help anyone draw closer to Him, in the end it’s first and foremost because you took Donnie and I to church.

2. Care about people.  I could write a book about all of the ways you have helped your own siblings (and Grandma, until she passed away) over the years. Somehow you have single-handedly been the tie that binds your whole family together. And that’s not to mention all the other people and organizations you have served.  I don’t think you realize all the lives you have touched and influenced.

3. Have a good attitude.  I can’t think of anyone I know who has a more positive attitude in life.  You always have a smile or a good word to say about someone.  You have been through hard times in life, both as a child and an adult, and your positive attitude has been a wonderful example to so many people, including me.  I don’t ever recall you telling me to have a good attitude; rather, you taught me this through example.

4. Do your best.  You have inspired me to do my best in everything because that’s the example you have always set.  You always put a little extra effort into everything.  I even noticed this on Sunday when I was opening my Christmas gift that had been wrapped “just so.”  It doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does need to be my best.

Without a doubt, the book I loved most as a kid was “Pierre” by Maurice Sendak.  Perhaps it’s no coincidence that Ben now loves the same book.  The moral of the book is “CARE,” and I can’t think of a better description for your life and what I’ve learned from you.

Happy birthday, Mom.  I will always consider it an honor to be known as “Mary’s son.”

Love,

Kent