On the horizon | Things your mother told you

I can remember the things Mum said. I can hear her saying “dry between your toes so you keep them healthy”. Her responses to me to me after I said ‘is this food fattening?’

“Eat everything in moderation then nothing is fattening.”

”She’s the cat’s mother. Call people by name”. “I love you the best when you are asleep” (I think I may have been a chatterbox). “Alcohol shrinks your brain“. I’d say ‘I’m sweaty Mum’. And she’d say only ”pigs sweat, people perspire”.

“You can clean everything with bicarb and vinegar”. Mum was a greenie before it was popular not to use chemicals. She also swatted flies not to use chemical spray.

I remember one day, I said something ‘smart alecky’ to Mum and I ran off so I wouldn’t get into trouble. And I thought mum’s too old and slow to catch me, then whop, she caught me with a soft thong shoe smack – she was fast when she wanted to be. She loved me though and I knew it.

You will have your own memories, I’m sure.

Mothers are worth honouring. They give so much so unselfishly. It says in the Bible to honour your mother (and father), in the Ten Commandments – good rules for living. What does that mean?

Thank your mum, when they do things for you, drive you to football, dancing and school.

When they cook you a great meal or, in my case, a mediocre one. Tell them how much they mean to you, (don’t wait until their Eulogy when they can’t hear it). Let them know now. Write notes, remember their birthday, or special days for them.

Make time to visit if you are older. Tell them you love them. Respect the house rules, do the best with your life.

I think honouring is something like this. I think of my mum a lot, she is in heaven now, but I wished I’d honoured her more.

Proverbs 31:10-31 Woman of Good Character.

Exodus 20:12

Liz Spicer

Kyabram P-12 chaplain