I’ve been thinking a lot
about our time together—me and MSH. I’ve been thinking about how we met. Thirty-Seven years ago. Our
tiny (and cheap), but tres sweet, wedding. Our first six years together. Then TLC’s birth and the
next eighteen years after that. Soon we'll celebrate our 36th Anniversary. Yikes.
I've also been thinking about single Moms.
Wondering how they do it. How do they raise one or two or more children without
the love, help, support, encouragement, loyalty, devotion, and energy of a
spouse? What if they don't have family members that can help them? What if they don't have many friends that can help?
Because here is The
Honest-To-God’s-Truth:
I couldn’t have been the
Mom I was—or am—or the grandmother I’ve been—without MSH. He goes above and
beyond The Call of Duty. The Call of Love. The Call of Responsibility.
I’ve stood by and watched him be the most wonderful father to his four sons.
I then got to experience his fathering of TLC. I’ve watched him learn the ropes
of GrandPa/Pa-Dad/Pa-Pa (Yes, the poor man has three “grandfather” names, bless
his heart…). He’s cooked. Cleaned. Been a chauffeur. Been an encourager. Waited
at hospitals. Mowed. Cooked some more. Spent hours and days and months and years at schools. He’s
listened. He’s laughed. He’s taught. He’s cried. He's teased. He's lectured. He's given his time, energy, money, faith, hope and trust to his children and grandchildren. And to lucky, LUCKY me.
During this month of
May—that TLC and I have, as you know, designated “Mothers’ Month”—MSH deserves recognition. From now until the 31st, he shall be called Pa-Dad-Ma. He'll love it. Trust me.
(We’ll be toasting MSH on
his 70th birthday—but he should have a toast made to him every night
of his life. He's just that special. Annoying sometimes, yes. In a silly, precious way. Still, he's definitely an inspiration to me.)
Have a FABULOUS Friday,
Friends, Wherever in the World you are!
