Dear Mom,
I was reading this silly book called Six Word Memoirs, where you use six words to sum up your life or something. My brain started tossing around words and in light of this blog I came up with, “You’re bad luck.” I believed it.
I’ll never forget that day. Ruthie and I were playing in the hallway. You had gotten up from the living room and stood at the doorway and said, “Lynn, are you going to bring me bad luck every 11 years?” It was my birthday, a Friday the Thirteenth. I had no idea how to answer that.
I still wonder if you meant it, and why you would feel that way. Those words affected me for the longest time, feeling responsible for your death in some way. Especially after I had prayed for God to take you to heaven so you wouldn’t suffer. Prayed to God. Mother did die.
My mind travels. You had appendicitis when I was born on Friday the Thirteenth, and was told we almost died. I wondered if you thought of me as some evil demon. Or maybe you had an out-of-body experience that scared you so much, it felt safer to blame me. Or maybe you were not really aware of what you were saying.
I know in my heart it’s not true, now.
I’ve tried watching my words when talking to my children. No doubt I have slipped up because who knows what affects others, really. But I still try to be careful.
No matter what, good will come.
Showing posts with label power of words. Show all posts
Showing posts with label power of words. Show all posts
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Power of Words
Dear Mom,
Monday night we had Norm’s son Todd and his three children (the grandchildren), Jack, Lucas and Lily over for their birthdays. Jack turned 12, and Lily & Lucas (twins) turned 8. They wanted meatloaf and mashed potatoes; I added corn to the menu. Lucas wanted to say a prayer before dinner. He started, “Dear God, thank you for all our food and drinks. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the table and chairs. Thank you for clothes and toys and….” He continued on and I wondered whether it was ever going to end. Not that I minded because he sounded so cute, but I didn’t want the food to get cold. I sat there with my eyes closed listening, and then I peeked out of one eye to look at Lucas. His head was down, his hands folded and he looked adorable. "And thank you for mashed potatoes and thank you for the meatloaf.” He paused slightly and I wanted to say, “Whew, finally.” But thank goodness I kept my mouth shut because Lucas then whispered, “Because Grandma’s meatloaf is very, very good.” Look what I would have missed had I opened my mouth. Now how does that not touch your heart?
Here's a picture of the little stinker.
Monday night we had Norm’s son Todd and his three children (the grandchildren), Jack, Lucas and Lily over for their birthdays. Jack turned 12, and Lily & Lucas (twins) turned 8. They wanted meatloaf and mashed potatoes; I added corn to the menu. Lucas wanted to say a prayer before dinner. He started, “Dear God, thank you for all our food and drinks. Thank you for my family. Thank you for the table and chairs. Thank you for clothes and toys and….” He continued on and I wondered whether it was ever going to end. Not that I minded because he sounded so cute, but I didn’t want the food to get cold. I sat there with my eyes closed listening, and then I peeked out of one eye to look at Lucas. His head was down, his hands folded and he looked adorable. "And thank you for mashed potatoes and thank you for the meatloaf.” He paused slightly and I wanted to say, “Whew, finally.” But thank goodness I kept my mouth shut because Lucas then whispered, “Because Grandma’s meatloaf is very, very good.” Look what I would have missed had I opened my mouth. Now how does that not touch your heart?
Here's a picture of the little stinker.
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