What Does a Mother Do for Her Son?
by mary gutheil anderson
What does a mother do for her son?
She helps create him
She carries him next to her heart for close to a year
She gives birth
She sustains his life
She feeds him
She clothes him
She combs his hair
She nurtures him
She loves him
She teaches him about God
She reads books to him
She sings lullabies to calm him
She shares her history with him
She plays with him
She laughs with him
She shares the pain of life with him
She challenges him
She watches over him
She encourages him
She provides strength and reassurance
She listens with him to life
She introduces him to hope and courage
She brings in the sound of nature and the cuddly fur of a puppy
She creates with him
She teaches him
She corrects his papers
She watches his games
She takes him to appointments
She washes his clothes
She calms him down
She helps him find his own deep wisdom
She walks with him into his bright future
She helps him reflect and learn from his past
She gives him advice
She tries to heal his pain
She cheers him up
She clarifies his challenges
She helps him to link his heart to both his family and friends
She tries to understand him
She is often at parties and celebrations with him and the family
She supports him in his work
She creates metaphors to help him learn from his hardships
She plans with him
She watches the world change with him
She helps him to be free from doubt
She invites him to take risks, grow and follow his dreams
She is his anchor in times of trouble
She is his strength in both triumph and failure
She is the woman who takes a stand every day for the infinite possibility of him and his mission here on earth
What does a mother do for her son?
She is the woman who is awakened in a dark, rainy night to hear the dreaded end has come
She is the woman who kissed his cold forehead and said goodbye too soon
I am that woman, that mother;
I loved Taylor, more than life itself
I am broken over this loss
Today his precious body has been buried, my son, but I know his soul and love will live on in each of us.
Taylor Scott Anderson
March 11, 1983 ~ May 19, 2005
AfterTalk invites readers to submit their own poem, essay, or suggestions for inspirational quotes to us for publication. Please send your submission to larry@aftertalk.com
