~Things Moms Learn~
I gave you life,
but cannot live it for you.
I can give you directions,
but I cannot be there to lead you.
I can allow you freedom,
but I cannot account for it.
I can teach you right from wrong,
but I cannot decide for you.
I can offer you advice,
but I cannot accept it for you.
I can give you love,
but I cannot force it upon you.
I can teach you to share,
but I cannot make you unselfish.
I can teach you respect,
but I cannot force you to show honor.
I can advise you about friends,
but cannot choose them for you.
I can advise you about sex,
but I cannot keep you pure.
I can tell you about drink,
but I can't say "no" for you.
I can warn you about drugs,
but I can't prevent you from using them.
I can tell you about lofty goals,
but I can't achieve them for you.
I can teach you about kindness,
but I can't force you to be gracious.
I can tell you how to live,
but I cannot give you eternal life.
[Author unknown]
A Mothers Love
A mothers love is unique and special;
nothing else can quite compare.
When you think she's given all she's got
You'll see she still has love to spare.
When the object of her love is taken
for whatever the reason be
An important part of her goes with her,
A part no one else can see.
You may understand her grief and sorrow,
You may feel a great loss, too.
But, what that child meant to her is different
From what that person meant to you.
She spent nine months with this life within her,
Growing and maturing day by day.
Truly depending on her for existence
In a very real and vital way.
A bond is shared between mother and daughter
The first moment of her birth;
Unspoken, unrehearsed, though it be,
No word can measure it's worth.
-Author Unknown -
SENT FROM NANCY ULIBARRI
You entered our life
And stayed but a short while.
Nonetheless, the memories of those moments
When you blessed us with laughter and delight,
Joy and smiles,
Charm and beauty,
Gaiety and silliness,
Sunlight and moonbeams,
Giggles and love...
Made the deluge,
The tears of pain and anger,
Helplessness and fear,
Insanity and agony,
Sadness and heartbreak,
Emptiness and loneliness
Bearable
Rainbows, however brief,
Make the world a brighter, lovelier place.
How grateful we are that we had you,
Our brief rainbow.
Letter to Mom
by Joy Curnutt
Mom, please don’t feel guilty
It was just my time to go.
I see you are still feeling sad,
And the tears just seem to flow.
We all come to earth for our lifetime,
And for some it’s not many years
I don’t want you to keep crying
You are shedding so many tears.
I haven’t really left you
Even though it may seem so.
I have just gone to my heavenly home,
And I’m closer to you than you know.
Just believe that when you say my name
I’m standing next to you,
I know you long to see me,
But there’s nothing I can do.
But I’ll still send you messages
And hope you understand,
That when your time comes to “cross over,”
I’ll be there to take your hand.
My Shoes
I am wearing a pair of shoes.
They are ugly shoes.
Uncomfortable shoes.
I hate my shoes.
Each day I wear them, and each day I wish I had another pair.
Some days my shoes hurt so bad that I do not think I can take another step.
Yet, I continue to wear them.
I get funny looks wearing these shoes.
They are looks of sympathy.
I can tell in other's eyes that they are glad they are my shoes and not
theirs.
They never talk about my shoes.
To learn how awful my shoes are might make them uncomfortable.
To truly understand these shoes you must walk in them.
But, once you put them on, you can never take them off.
I now realize that I am not the only one who wears these shoes.
There are many pairs in this world.
Some women are like me and ache daily as they try to walk in them.
Some have learned how to walk in them so that they don't hurt quite so
much.
Some have worn the shoes so long that days will go by before they think
about how much they hurt.
No woman deserves to wear these shoes.
Yet, because of these shoes I am a stronger woman.
These shoes have given me the strength to face anything.
They have made me who I am.
I will forever walk in the shoes of a woman who has lost a child.