I promise you guys I’m going to get back to writing about what this blog is about — working out, fitness and a healthy life but…there has been a lot going on lately and I hope you don’t mind me sharing all of the “rest of my life” with you!
Today is Mother’s Day and I want to honor my Mom. My mom has always taught me through her actions to help those in need and that’s what I want to focus on today.
When I was a little girl, I didn’t realize the magnitude of help my parents gave others. But looking back, it’s such a beautiful way to teach your kids kindness.
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| Mom and Me! |
Every other week, my Mom used to go to the grocery store and but an entire load of groceries for a family that didn’t have any money. I remember going to their house like a delivery service. They had little kids and needed food – so we got them food. At this time, we didn’t have a lot of money ourselves. We lived in a pretty crappy house and my parents were by no means “well off.” But they were better off than that family — so they gave.
The next day, my Mom would be spending her time volunteering at Backstreet Missions, a homeless shelter for people recovering from drugs and alcohol and whatever else. She spent countless hours helping there — becoming close friends with the founders and the people.
She also used to spend every Sunday at the local nursing home. She was studying to be a nurse at the time and for whatever reason, she decided it was her duty to visit the old people in the nursing home. Everyone knew her there and she often took us along to hang out. Talk about a weird experience for a 7-year-old…being surrounded by the death and dying smells of a low income nursing home. But that was my Mom — she just did.
Whenever there was an opportunity to give or serve or help people who needed help, Mom was always the first one to volunteer. She is kind of no-nonsense — she’s not sentimental or bleeding heart at all! She’s very matter-of-fact and practical. Personally, I’m really sentimental and sometimes can’t relate to her on an emotional level — but I think our differences actually make us closer in a way.
I’ve learned a lot from my Mom. The thing is, she doesn’t talk about all the good things she’s done for others. She just does them. And as I’ve quoted before, “People won’t always believe what you say, but they will always believe what you do.”
I am so grateful to my Mom for teaching me to do the right thing, to be honest, to help others always and most importantly, to stop talking about it — and just go do it.
Love you Marmee (she hates it when I call her that)!! 🙂