“Out of sight, out of mind.”
I’ve heard people say it plenty of times, but I never thought about how true it really is.
My mother doesn’t live too far away from me. Less than two hours. But I haven’t seen her in almost a year. And I haven’t talked to her in about a month. I even forgot to call her on Mother’s Day.
I could blame it all on my work schedule and being busy. But that would be a cop out. And I know it.
That’s why feel terrible.
From the looks of my Facebook page Sunday, you’d think I was the best daughter in the world. I electronically wished her a happy Mother’s Day along with all the other moms I know, and even posted a picture of us together. But as soon as I exited the page and went to work, my thoughts of her went away also.
And I didn’t realize that until today.
My mother probably thought I didn’t care about her, or was too busy for her. And she deserves better than that.
She deserves to know that my actions speak louder than words on a Facebook page she’ll never see.
She deserves to know that work won’t keep me from keeping us connected.
Afterall, she gave me life and instilled in me that value of hard work. For years, she faced critics who thought a slower learning level and a slight speech impediment would keep her from ever getting a job. But she worked hard and refused to believe that. And nearly 20 years later, she’s still working and I bet every boss she’s ever had would call her their most loyal and dependable employee.
Everyday I grew up seeing her discipline and determination. Now those qualities are ingrained in every fiber of my being.
So I work hard.
And I stay late.
But I also put relationships on the backburner when I shouldn’t.
My relationship with my mother. And sometimes my relationship with God.
There have been times where I allowed myself to focus on my blessings instead of who they came from and only reached out when it was convenient. I didn’t draw nigh and love the Lord as much as I knew I could, “with all [my] heart, with all [my] soul, and with all [my] strength” (Deut. 6:5). I didn’t make Him my first priority….or even place Him high on the list. And He is the “giver of life” (John 5:21).
I’ve got to do better….because God deserves better. Just like my mom.
Are you showing God and the other life-givers in your life the love they deserve?
