Mother's Day

One month ago, I was in Charleston with my family, celebrating my brother’s Recognition Day at The Citadel. We had such a great time, laughing and joking and enjoying each other.

Three weeks ago, I got a phone call from my dad telling me that there had been an accident. My mom was hit by a drunk driver and was rushed to the emergency room for immediate surgery, which saved her life. She should not be alive, based on her car and the extent of her injuries.  That phone call is the one I always dreaded but never actually expected to get. Thank God she was alive, even though her injuries were extensive and she was in critical condition.

My mom and I have always been close. Ever since I was a little girl, Mama has been my adviser, helper, leader, guide, confidante, fellow female in the household, and best friend. I have always told her everything, and as I grew up, we developed a relationship that I cherish. We discuss life, friends, situations, our faith and what God is teaching us, our family, our hopes and dreams for the futures. Sure, it isn’t all fun and laughter and perfection - we’ve had our share of disagreements and rough moments. But I have been blessed in that God chose Mary Grace to be my mother. He knew what each of us needed, and so He gave us each other.

After the accident, Mama was in the ICU for about two and a half weeks. The first few days of that Mama was chemically paralyzed, and for the next week she was heavily sedated and out of it. I had to return to school during that time and take my final exams. Of course, all my thoughts were not on my studies but back in that ICU room with my mom.


Yesterday Mama came home! After three weeks in the hospital, Mama made the move home, and tonight we are all gathered in her room, talking and laughing and watching the baseball game. My grandfather and aunt are here, and it has been a good day. The kind of day she and I both love, when we are all together as a family. 

Now it's Mother’s Day, my 22^nd Mother’s Day. When I imagined Mother’s Day 2012, I can’t say that I imagined spending it quite this way, gathered around my mom’s bedside. Yet I rejoice at this day, I rejoice at where we are, because I almost lost her. I almost lost my Mama, my confidante, my guide, my best friend. Honestly, I don’t know what I would do without her, and I am thankful beyond measure because I know that this post could easily have gone the other way. I cannot repeat that enough – I know how blessed I am to still have my mom with me. And I do not take that for granted.

When I look at my mom now, I still sometimes get frustrated (especially when she’s hurting and I can’t do anything to ease her pain). I do long for our life as it was before, but at the same time, I am so thankful for this battle that we are in the midst of. Together, my family is learning what it means to know that the Lord is with us. Yea though we walk through the valley of death, we will fear no evil, because He is with us, and He has led us here, and He will see us through. We are learning in a new way to rely on Him and to rely on each other. We are learning to love each other tightly and hold on to every moment and tuck them away in our hearts.

While I know in the future, there will be times when I roll my eyes at Mama, or I think she is ridiculous, or I will be frustrated with her, I also know that I will not take for granted who she is and what she is to me. There was a time when I thought I would lose her, when we couldn’t talk, when I watched for every breath and listened for every heartbeat, and because of that, my perspective has radically changed.

Mama, I love you more than words can say. I’m so thankful for you, for what God is doing in both of us, and for how He us using this circumstance for His purpose and His glory. I’m so thankful that even though there are hard moments, we know to whom we belong. I am thankful that we can remind and encourage each other to cling to the truth and trust in the One who set  us in this family. Thank you for being who you are, for loving the Lord, and for seeking Him above all else. He has used you so much in my life, and there are not enough words to say how grateful I am for you. I love you.

My family and I, we are confident in the Lord, in the God we serve, and we are confident in what He is doing in each of us. And we stand together and say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him and He saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”