Sacrifices!

Saturday - March 13, 2010

Tired? No I'm not tired!!!

How many times have I heard my mother say "I'm not tired!" Hundreds of times she has said this, but I know she has had to have been tired. For well over 60 years she has taken care of her home and family! Sacrifices that she made could never be given a monetary value - the sacrifices she made was all with love!

While watching one of her shows with her the other morning, I got to thinking about her sacrifices she had made in order for her family to have what they "needed" and not necessarily what they "wanted!" The program had single parent mothers wanting the help from the fathers of their babies. In today's society, I thought the law was in place for the "dead beat" parent to pay support.

The love of a father - Dad with Dink

It really bothers me when they try to place all "fathers" in the category as being dead beat. I know several fathers who made sure their children had not only what they needed, but many times what they wanted! Some of these fathers were not there with the children 24/7, but the support was there 24/7 - financially, emotionally, and all with love. Some of these fathers have not been given credit for what they did do. Many of these father were the custodial parent and received no help from the mother! Each situation is different, and we as society tend to categorize all fathers in one group and all mothers in another.

Mom with the four of us -Dink, John, Sue, and Mike

These single mothers were wanting financial support -which you can't blame them! However, not only these single mothers made sacrifices, but the generations before them did as well. My mother and father's generation made many sacrifices. Dad was of the belief "he" was to be the bread winner, and Mom was to be the one to stay home and raise the family. Money was not at all plentiful. Mom has said they had to scour the house, check all pockets, look under the cushions of the chair just to find enough to buy medicine for us - this was the day before credit cards!!!

Sacrifices are made everyday by mothers, fathers, families, friends, neighbors, but are we conscious of what they have done to help someone other than themselves? Do we stop and look at what we have and who made the effort for us to have it? Thankfully, many do and they thank the person/persons responsible for what they have done.

Listening to the mothers on that show made me stop and thank God I had the parents I have! They put their children ahead of them, but at the same time they did not spoil us - well maybe the boys were a tad bit spoiled! :):) Just kidding guys! I noticed the "bling" these mothers were wearing and thinking - if you didn't have all that jewelry they would have had a little extra for their children. At the same time the fathers indicated they were not doimh without what they wanted either! Yes, the father should have been helping, but both should have been thinking more about the child than themselves!!! Selfishness and wanting what they want is not what a parent should be displaying! Shows like this show only a portion of some parents are like - thankfully I know a lot of parents who do make sacrifices for their child/children!

The Layne Family - "Buck," Irene, Dink, John, Sue, and Mike

The picture I started off shows my 90 year old mother - and yes she has the right to be tired! She has worked hard not only for her family, extended family, friends, neighbors, but also doing the Lord's work. No job was ever to large for her to attempt. She still works around the house, helps with all activities at church, and loves to go - go to the store, mall, visit her family, and anywhere the car may take her!

So Mom, if you want to take a nap during the day - you've earned it!!!!! You have worked hard your entire life, so take a nap whenever and wherever you feel like it!!!!!!

We all appreciate and love you for all you have done and are doing for us!!! We love you MOM!!!