Elizabeth and I were talking the other morning. I was explaining to her how I had spoken to my mom the evening before and just spent some time ‘catching up’. When mom and I hung up she said, “Night night, honey.” Something I haven’t heard in 40 years or so… I don’t think she was aware she said it, just something fired off in her heart from years ago as we ended the call.
For me, the sensation was immediate – it was like being sucked, pulled much like with the ocean’s current. You can’t ‘see’ it but you see the results of it, and you can sure feel the power of it. The undercurrent of time rolled me back 43 years ago… I was 7 years old, in my footy pajamas, and in the lower bunk bed ready for the drowsiness of sleep to carry me away.
In actuality, I was on highway 64 rolling east, heading to Elizabeth’s house for dinner. I saw cars, trees, sky, speed, etc., but every fiber in my being was back in 1971. Three Dog Night, The Bee Gees, and Osmonds were on the music charts, belted turtle neck sweaters… FOR MEN, were hot (Thank God I was a kid and never wore those). The size of men’s shirt collars were just under the the width of Texas. Willy Wonka and Bedknobs and Broomsticks held the family line-up for movies while the adult attraction was The French Connection 
with a very Young Gene Hackman.
How did she do it? What magical powers does a mother have that can take a cranky, 50 year old guy and move him, every way possible but physically, back 47 years? Is my mom really Doctor Who, the time traveler from the BBC TV series? I mean, I could smell and taste my past, in black in white, but nonetheless, real – like just coming out of a dream. Wow…
My conclusion…
It’s love.
Like a needle on a old vinyl record album, she played a track that clearly was deep in my soul. I can see her bright red hair… yes my mom is a Ginger… one of the first superhero girls to walk the planet (in my way of thinking), trying to finish her day of cooking, cleaning, playing, loving and nurturing, so she can can take some rest before starting another cycle of being ‘mom’. She’s in her apron, partnering with dad to make a life for them and us. She is tireless, fearless, and will literally split the world in half for her children. I learned a long time ago not to tick her off, but I learned more importantly… God help the person who messed with her children. Wonder Woman has nothing on my mom when it comes superpower strength around protecting her kids.
Mom said to me the other day, “Getting old isn’t for wimps.” Though I like to think of her as middle age… I AM MIDDLE age… so she is just a ‘little ahead of me’. 🙂 However, the reason I wanted to put this down in thought and words was, for all my mom is, she is still the woman that I knew in her late 20’s, and 30’s, 40’s, 50’s and… well, you get the point. She isn’t who she just is ‘today’. She is ALL of those years wrapped together, she is layered and complex with the depth of the ocean, yet the gentleness of a breeze. If you were wondering, yes, she is still the boss. To this day, she can say “JEFFERY DAVID KENNON” and I get a knot in my stomach. I know what is coming next “1 hour of pulling weeds young man now get!” (Yes we had weed words…) This is way before gas powered lawn weed eaters for the yard however, Mom and Dad had 3 weed eaters… Mike, Jeff and Brad. When we stepped out of line, we were outside pulling weeds that were growing against the fence line!
WE HATED IT!
But as the years have rolled past, my mom has gotten more tender, wonderful, beautiful and cherished. You know, I don’t look to my mom for the hour to hour or day to day business of life like I used too, but I look to her as she lives her life and take solace in the fact that she is still guiding and nourishing us, not by her discipline (well she could), not by her strong presence, but by the most powerful gift she has, which is her love for us.This also gives me hope because one day, Mom will transition from this life to the one God has destined for her, and yet, her love will translate through eternity to still live in my heart, our hearts… and take me back to the days when she held me, cared for me and walked me through every start in life.
That is powerful, and there is a lesson here… one that I want to remind myself and you my readers of.
A mother’s love is immeasurable and incomprehensible. A man or woman can do the world’s most horrible thing and yet a mom will be right there ‘claiming her child as her own’ no matter what the situation. If we could but just slow the world down for a minute, stop and look at the power one woman holds in her heart, we might understand a little better what it means to be good and kind from the deepest parts of our beings.
A mother’s love can move time back and put you in a former chapter in the blink of an eye, in the breath of a word…through love. Even if your mom has passed on, she will always live in your heart.
I hope your travels this week take you to a place where you close your eyes and see what I saw, hear what I heard, feel what I felt, and understand, there is something so much more important than our day to day race of life.
May you have love on your travels this week. I love you Mom.
One Response
Thank u son. you have touched my heart. I can’t believe how beautifully u write. thank u so much. u will never know how much this means to me. u are truly a blessing from the Lord. I love u so much.