Gift 2 - Thanks, Mom

My gift for today is for my Mom.  She is my rock.  I can always count on her to do ANYTHING for me ANYTIME I need her.  I know that I don't give back to her nearly as much as she gives to me.  I tell myself that I will have more time for her when my kids are a bit older and don't need me as much.  But does that day come, really?  I am an adult, a mother of two, and I still rely on my mom to listen to me, comfort me, and help me when I'm in a bind.  I likely will be that person for my children for many more years to come.  I hope. 

So when will it be my mom's turn? 

My mom is that person who always puts others before herself.  She has always been that way.  She took care of her younger brothers, she took care of her children, she took care of her elderly mother, she took care of her co-workers, she took care of her mentally ill brother.  Now she takes care of her grandchildren in addition to her children.  However, she would say the grandchildren are fun, part of her reward for working and parenting for so long. 

At some point it has to be her turn, right? 

Today I took my mom to lunch.  My gift was a thank you to her because she took care of our house while we were out of town.  That was a job!  While we were away, our air conditioner stopped working and the internet wires were somehow disconnected.  My mother spent an entire day at my house waiting for repair people to come fix everything.  The internet is fine now, as evidenced by this post, but the air conditioner is done.  We will have to purchase a new unit which will be a major financial burden for us.  My mom felt guilty that she couldn't do more when I started crying on the phone, worried about how we would pay for it.  And I know, if she had the means, she would replace it for us.  That is the kind, giving person that she is.  My mom doesn't need to read "29 Gifts" because she lives it and has been living it for most of her life.  She is a natural giver.

So today my prayer of gratitude is for my mom.  I am so thankful that she is here, that she loves me and my family, and that she is a natural giver.  I hope that she knows how appreciated she is. 

And I hope our budget allows for a new air conditioner sooner rather than later because it is getting hot!