THE WATCHER

Mothers Day

Whenever I see a lilac I think of my mother. Sunday, I went to Star Nursery and was enjoying a walk amongst the rows and rows of plants. For some reason a lovely green bush caught my eye. I flipped over the information card that was attached to a branch and saw that is was a Persian Lilac. My mind was flooded with memories of the two huge lilac bushes we had when I was a child. They were at least 15ft tall and yearly provided an over abundance of luscious purple flowers and a wafting of smells that signaled spring had finally arrived. For some reason, I was the type of little boy who loved cutting flowers and giving them to my mom. She would swoon at my thoughtfulness and immediately put them in a vase to display for the entire family. It was a spring ritual, I would bring the bounty and she would display the goods. A lump formed in my throat and I swooped up the lovely young bush and put it in my red wagon and wandered the nursery until I was composed enough to check out. Although I was in the midst of mother’s day, I really had no significant thoughts about my mother, yet somehow a little lilac bush brought her back to me if for only a moment. I have since planted the bush in my yard and hope to remember her more often.

Sunday we celebrated mother’s day for another great mother, my wife. She pours her soul into our children and for that I will always love her. She shares with them lessons that will last long after they are out of our protective care. She cares for their eternal souls and dreams great things for them. She teaches them things I am incapable of seeing and feeling. Thank God we have her.