My Mom

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I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “Mom.” I love spending time with this crew. They bring me joy! 

Her laugh envelopes the room. Her face wears the lines of deep sadness and joy as she lives with a mental illness. Her smile lights up a room. She is filled with the most amazing faith. She seriously would give the shirt off of her back to someone in need. She loves her family and especially my sister and I with such an immense love; a love that is so deep. This incredible women is my momma.

Now she lives in an assisted living facility surrounded by nurses who care for her every day. She is still here, yet pieces of her are fading. Her memory isn’t as sharp as it once was. Her weekly phone calls have become almost nonexistent. Yet when my sister and I walk into her room, her face lights up with such joy and unconditional love. She yearns deeply to be a Grandma and continually asks both of us when this is going to happen. I know her heart is in the right place, yet it is hard to try and answer her.

This incredible women has taught me so much about life and living. Despite the challenges of life, she is full of so much love, and life and light. She has always trusted in God. She lives each day to the absolute fullest. She is one of the first to invite the outsiders into the circle. She has never let her illness get in the way of who and whose she is. I hope that I am half the woman she is.

There are indeed things I would change. I wish mental illness wasnt part of our story. *But then I remember that mental illness is indeed a part of our story and has shaped all of us into who God has called us to be. In sharing our story, in sharing the fact that I am a broken, blessed child of God; but more importantly Sandy’s daughter, I live out our story; a story of an incredible mom who has never once let me doubt that I am loved. And because of that love, I have found the courage to be brave and share our story; a story that I hope helps to break some of the stigma that comes with living with a mental illness. “The bravest thing you’ll ever do is tell your story.”—Brene Brown

Happy Mother’s Day Mom! I love you for all you are!

*This is where my five minutes ended. I just had to finish out my thoughts.

Mom with her Girls February 2017

24 thoughts on “My Mom”

  1. Awww Tara what a sweet tribute to your momma! I often thank God for the circumstances of my/our life because I know they make me who I am and who my family is today. And while it’s not always easy, God knows it’s necessary.

    I’m behind you this week.

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  3. I love this picture of your mom, Tara! And, her yearning to be a grandma made me chuckle. My dad used to ask me constantly when he was going to be a grandpa – even if I wasn’t dating anyone at the time…. Oh, parents! 😉 Prayers for you all as she continues to gracefully live with her illness. That does take immense courage.

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  5. Hi Tara! Thanks for sharing…we recently placed my grandma in a care facility as she suffers from Alzheimer’s. It’s so painful to watch loved ones slip away, but you’re right that God has all of this as a part of our stories. Thanks for sharing yours! Your neighbor at #fmf

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  10. i love the tribute you wrote to your mom tara. very sweet:) i have a link on my post today (53) re someone whose mom also had mental health issues while raising her. my post got very long today…oh well. 🙂

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