Belated Blessings

Yesterday marked the birthdays of 2 of the most influential women in my life-- My mom and Lauren. There's really no way to describe the impact of two such giving, caring people without sounding totally trite. How do you put into words the countless hours of pouring love, wisdom, sympathy, direction, and fun into another's world? There really is no way. But the best part about people who do this kind of thing is that they don't do it for the accolades. They wouldn't hold it against me if I never said "thank you" or "wow, you're awesome!" But I think that everyone who lays down her life for another needs genuine encouragement that her investment has had an impact. And it's so easy to just take people like this for granted.
My mom has spent her life as a mother being wholly devoted. She has always made us feel loved, special and wanted. She knows how to make me laugh when I'm cranky, and always has. Every birthday I've had for the past 29 years, she's gone out of her way to make a beautiful cake, table, and display of presents! She was always baking cookies after school, and making sure we had sufficient time outdoors. She never let me have a barbie doll because she didn't want me to think that that's what a woman is supposed to look like. She modeled what it means to be yourself and be ok with not looking like other people (she never got her ears pierced or painted her nails). I remember sitting in a child development class in college where we were having a discussion on gender, and someone said that girls were more "high maintenance". I raised my hand and said, "not if you don't raise them to be high maintenance."
She gave me confidence, was always proud of me, encouraged me in my gifts... and even let me play the violin when I obviously wasn't excelling in the area of music. I didn't know it, but she made me practice in the basement with the door shut so as to drown out the squawking. She knows all those little things about me that other people don't. There are too many inside jokes to count. And she still tells me to call her when I'm driving home late at night, which really doesn't bother me-- it makes me feel loved. I always feel appreciated by her, as if I did something good for HER by being born. That's a gift not every girl has.
When Lauren entered my life the summer before 9th grade, I thought she was a little too much. Of what I'm not sure, but she seemed so interested in getting to know me, and I think it was hard to imagine that someone could be that genuinely interested in my likes, my dislikes, and my spirituality. I guess I thought it was something she was "hired" to do as a youth leader. But then she started remembering those little things (which really says a lot to a person's heart), showing up at my games, and just wanting to hang out. We seemed to connect in the way we thought, talked, and processed life. She modeled what it meant to listen empathetically, and was always offering to pray for me. Her prayers were (and still are) so full of genuineness. She led our small group, and helped to foster deeper relationships among my friends and me... which, in retrospect really helped keep my focus on God and girls... rather than feeling the need to find a boy to fill that "lonely void". To this day, she is a constant in my life, and I know I could tell her anything and she'd understand. The fact that she would consider me her friend and equal is a gift beyond comprehension.
So hats off to you, my excellent role models-- my women of strength and humility-- my heroes. You deserve so much more than this! I wish I could say it all -- but it would take 2 separate books!
Happy Birthdays-- I love that you share this important date in history.... and I celebrate you both more than words will allow!