…in the value of silence in the mornings, a quiet island of peace to rest for a while before the madness of the day begins.
…in the satisfaction of clean house, the peace that comes at the end of a long day spent putting things in order.
…in the the therapeutic value of ironing, smoothing out the wrinkles and letting the wrinkled problems in my mind follow suit.
…in making sure people, guests and family, feel welcome and important and loved.
…in the kitchen, the center of our home, a place where I can take care of the people I love.
…in setting the table and, even with the simplest of gatherings and the simplest of means, making the most of our meal together.
…in the evening prayers and songs, sitting on the bedside of my children, settling them into a peaceful night.
…and when, checking later, I make sure their peace is undisturbed.
…if they wake, sick or frightened, in need of a soft hand and voice to see them through.
…when I take the time to find a quiet moment and some peace at the end of my own days.
…when I sit and listen to someone else, when I listen and let them find their way to understanding.
…when I am gracious, when I am kind…
…in all these simple things, the things so important, so easy to forget…
…taking the chaos around us all and sorting through it, bringing order and comfort back into our lives…
…in all of these things, my mother is never far from my thoughts.
I feel all these things especially today, of course, for it’s my mother’s birthday.
And she is never far from me.