I’ve been thinking about this a great deal lately. With the holidays approaching – my first Christmas season without my mother – I want to remember the reasons I am truly grateful she was in my life. We may have had a tortured relationship, but she was still, in the end, my mother. So, what are you grateful for from your parents?
Your eye color? Skin texture? Sense of humor? The way they guided you to adulthood? The wisdom they imparted?
A thoughtful question for this Sunday…
Peggy Jaeger, Author 
What a thought provoking question. I lost my father 25 years ago and my mother 10 years ago. My relationships with both were sometimes tumultuous. As time has passed the reason for that became more clear: the times we were in conflict were times when our common character traits were being fully expressed.
From my father, I developed my analytical skills, direct manner, and decision making, sometimes devoid of the compassion I got from my mother. On the far side of that, is my mother’s sense of empathy and my love of teaching and learning. From both, I inherited my sense of humor and eternal curiosity in how the world works. Over time, I have learned how to meld those good qualities and leave behind the ones that no longer serve me.
When I mourn them, I also mourn the relationships that could have been and try to bring that lesson into the relationships I have with others still present.
I was also blessed with their genes for good skin, thick hair, and good teeth.
Thanks for the prompt Peggy.
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Amanda – your answer is as thought provoKing as the question!!! Brava!
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