By Debbie Jean Jordan
Mother’s Day memories. Oh, all these many precious ones that I hold so close to my heart. The first one in which I was a brand new mom, had me receive a vase of flowers and a card from my husband. He signed our daughter’s name to it. After all, she was the reason for why I was receiving these gifts. This was only right.
Later on in the day my mom arrived for a visit and she and I exchanged cards. These contained our words of love to each other. I sat there enjoying my time with my mom as I cradled my newborn babe in my arms. Then my mom produced a gift. It was an endearing snow dome, its base a soft cream color with pink inscription reading, “To a very special mom.” Staring into the snow dome, I saw a small Precious Moments figurine of a little girl and a kitten. I shook the dome, enjoying the flurry of tiny pink hearts that burst upwards, and then settled back down below the feet of the little figures. “This is Deanna’s very first Mother’s Day gift to you, Debbie,” Mom told me. I sit here now in this present moment, looking at this delicate, tangible gift — a reminder of my very first holiday as a mom.
Over the years, my darling daughter has given me so many other beautiful cherished gifts from her heart. I watched her as a five-year-old, her head bent over a sheet of paper. With crayons in her hand, she gave color to the flowers that she drew on her homemade card; then in childish handwriting she scrawled the words, “I love you, Mama!” No greater work of art ever graced the kitchen table as much. When she saw her Daddy set a vase of flowers beside it, she dashed outside into the yard near the front porch to bring her own bouquet (dandelions) in for me. “Look, Mama, they’re sunshine flowers for you because you’re so sunny and I love you!”
In either first or second grade, she produced a gift in Christmas wrapping paper (all that she was able to find), secured in some bright red yarn that her maternal grandmother “Gaga” gave to her for this project. I opened it to find two stones that Deanna had pried loose from the ground. One of the stones had a shape that somewhat resembled a heart. The other was unique in being rectangular in shape with a round indentation in the middle. This one was very intriguing and made me think of the great Stonehenge over in England.
Deanna was especially proud of this unique gift of love so she took it to school for “show and tell,” Sadly, during that school day, someone stole it out of her desk. “I wanted you to have it because it was so different and pretty. Now it’s gone,” she cried. “Why did someone take it, Mama? It was just a stone.” Just a stone? Oh, my darling child, it was so much more than that! It was your gift of love to me, and love is the greatest most valuable treasure. You saw its true unique beauty and you wanted me to have it so we could both marvel at the mystery of its form, together.
This stone, and you, Deanna, are my most memorable Mother’s Day gifts. I may not have the stone in my hands, but I hold it and you forever in my heart. You are my pride and joy, Deanna! “I love you forever, I love you for always. As long as I’m living, my baby you’ll be.” And even after, I’m your mom, eternally.
