Jeremy’s mom passed away last year. She had just celebrated her 100th birthday on the fifth of February. She was an amazing lady, and I am so grateful to her for raising the kind, considerate son with whom I get to share my life. With Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, I wanted to share just a bit about her.
Before she retired, mom was a teacher. I have always said that mom led such a long life because God was keeping her here on earth to show the rest of us how we should live. You see, I never heard her say an unkind word about anyone! I never heard her say anything unkind to my father-in-law while he was alive. It seemed as if she never really entertained less than positive thoughts! She approached her life with the motto, “Life is Good!”
Even in the last year, as she became non-ambulatory and required the care of a skilled nursing facility, she did not complain or grumble. Surely, body parts must have hurt. She had fallen and broken a hip with its resulting surgery, but she pretty much kept her discomforts to herself. She preferred to present an outward facade that life is, indeed, good!
In thinking about all we learn from our moms, I have come to realize how fortunate I have been. How lucky I am to be able to have a flexible work schedule on my own terms. I love our home and its location, which gives us uncomplicated access to nearly everything we need. I love that I have time to pursue music, books, exercise, travel and crafts. While we are certainly not wealthy, we have enough. Jeremy and I share a love and commitment that is strong enough to walk through anything. We are surrounded by family and good friends.
As Mother’s Day approaches I realize how much I learned from Jeremy’s mom – she was the consummate teacher. The most gratifying moment for any teacher is that moment when “the light bulb” goes on. It’s that time when the kid finally “gets it” and can continue to do the work on his own.
Well mom, our light bulb has gone on…Your lesson has been well taught and now it is up to us to keep doing the homework. It is up to us to keep trying to emulate your principles:
A steadfast refusal
to give voice to negativity
and
A constant grateful spirit
I hope the rest of us will be able to go forward practicing these lessons which you have spent a lifetime demonstrating for us. I know I, for one, will be forever grateful for your loving influence, and I hope that I can do justice to carrying forth the mantra that you so genuinely expressed nearly every day:
Life is Good!
Lynn
An Encore Voyage 
Lynn, so timely! I was spiraling negative this morning (will not go back there even to explain) and I consiously said….stop it and think about what you are grateful for! Your “a consciously grateful sprit ” settled so warmly on my heart. Yes, sometimes it needs to be conscious, and not innate.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And she always made it look so easy! Hope your day gets better, Pat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful tribute post to your mother-in-law’s legacy. Life is good! Thank you Lynn….. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely tribute to your mother-in-law! I so very much agree with your statement about not giving voice to negativity. For so many of us, it is a choice… and by choosing not to dwell in the darkness, we can change our circumstances. My mother-in-law is also a very positive person (I wrote about her in one of my GratiTuesday posts) who never complains. Her positive outlook on life is an inspiration to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely post Lynn. So positive and inspiring. Gratitude and concentrating on the positive makes life so much more pleasant!! Your mother-in-law was a wonderful teacher.
LikeLiked by 1 person
She really was! Thanks!
LikeLike
What a lovely tribute to your mother-in-law. It is a good reminder that our attitude makes a difference. If we expect things to be bad, they will, and like your mother-in-law, if you see the bright side of things, it will always look better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There can’t be many who never say an unkind word about anyone, and I know I’m not one of them! Though I do try……
Sounds a wonderful lady.
LikeLike
And I know this is gonna sound really unbelievable, but Jeremy has NEVER said an unkind word to me!
LikeLike
I won’t ask how it works the other way round! In our case, I don’t think either of us could make that claim – but we don’t mean it and we’ve been married 35 years so I guess we’re OK……
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have a similar mother in law. 🙂 She also eats a Twinkie every morning for breakfast and then runs/walks six miles….at age 74!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful tribute to a lady who passed along a wonderful positive message. You were blessed to have her for so long. ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great minds think alike, Lynn! I was just working on a Mother’s Day post when your blog popped up on my email. Your mother-in-law sounds like a very inspirational woman — thank you for sharing!
http://www.retirementreflections.com
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful words and tribute to that important person in your life. Thank you for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Life IS good. It’s for us to acknowledge the blessings so we can enjoy them.
She sounds like she was a wise woman.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my goodness – wouldn’t the world be so much different if people would live by those two simple principles? Thanks so much for the window into a beautiful life!
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was truly a special lady! And she was such a cute little Italian mama – could cook up a storm with so much love!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What an absolutely wonderful post and tribute to your mother-in-law. She sounds like a truly amazing and inspiring woman. How blessed you are to have had her in your life.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks great bblog
LikeLike