This past weekend it was 2 years ago that my mom died. Day 11 and Day 12 readings struck me. My mom loved me and I loved her, but now as I look back I can see some of my own earlier self-esteem issues came from her. She was a depression child and that affected her and how she thought. She was always afraid of running out of money as she got older. She wanted to go to college after high school but her dad, my grandfather did not have the money and thought college was a waste of time for girls. She never really got over that. She never did love “the face in the mirror.”
When we are kids we think are parents are the kings and queens of the word. Along in our teen years, we discover they are not perfect and so we think they are complete idiots. Some where during or after college we come to a more mature understanding of our parents. No they aren’t perfect. They made mistakes in trying to raise us. But, they did the best they knew how with the best of the ability they had within their own limitations. And maybe that is what a mature love is. Loving friends and family despite/inspite of themselves and knowing they love you inspite/despite yourself.
Each day I remind myself that I am created in God’s image; I am an icon of God even if I doubt that some days. Knowing that I am loved by God enables me to love the faces at home.
