“No one else will ever know the strength of my love for you. After all, you’re the only one who knows the sound of my heart from the inside.”

Kristen Proby, Fight With Me

Mom

When I first received Mom’s and Dad’s symbols, I wrote both reflections together. It ended up being an extremely long post that didn’t give each the space they deserved. I wasn’t quite sure what to do. I realized that they each needed their own page which meant one had to come first. Ugh. No child wants to pick one parent over the other, especially for a blog pulication! I was at a crossroads until I realized Sunday was Mother’s Day. Problem solved. Gracias el Dio! And here’s to you, Sharon Zieman Duggan.

I love the quote above because it took becoming a mother myself to understand its depth. Think about how truly cool it is for all of us to say that we have heard someone’s heart from the inside out. What a privilege it is to have been heard and to have listened. The symbol Mom shared definitely shows the strength of her love for me: a gold medallion of the Divine Mother. She said that Dad had given it to her as a gift early in their relationship and that she “wore it 24/7 for years and it guided [her] through the good times and the difficult stretches.” When I first saw it, Mom, it made me smile thinking of the “youthful you” wearing it for so long. It is delicate, gentle, and beautifully perserved. It shines like it was just bought. I felt like a small child who had found a treasure. Thank you, Mom, for passing along the gift of a Mother’s love for my journey. It will provide strength and guidance (and perhaps a kick in the butt) from another Mother since you won’t be there in person. I am wearing the necklace now and in the week leading up to the trip. Mary has a calming influence and will help me during the last of the preparations. I am not sure if I will be wearing it when I leave, but I promise She will be safe. I am grateful to you for sending someone to look after me along the Way.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

Note: When I am in the picture, I am not sure who was behind the lens. I could take my best guess if you would like.