The Weight of Glory

With Mother's Day coming up in just three weeks, I thought I'd pass along this idea for a Mother's Day gift: a letter of memories and gratitude. Last year, one of my sisters initiated a Christmas letter from my siblings to my mom, and it turned out to be a great way of honoring her.

Here's the idea as my sister presented it. She collected our letters, which were based on the following format:

• Identify the top 2 things you like most about mom and why they're meaningful to you. Add up to 3 more areas that you admire or like about her, (optional)
• When you think of mom, you think of __________(from 2 words to 2 sentences)
• Two important things that mom has taught you. (Can be more) This can be by her example as well, etc.
• Most important gift mom has given you.
• Favorite day, moment or memories with her (this is not limited but can expand as far as you'd like- beyond just one moment, day, experience too)
  
• Funniest or silliest memory of her (laughable moment/s).
• Your hopes, prayers or dreams for her now-what you would hope she will have/experience, related to her fulfillment.
• (Optional) One thing she doesn't know about you that you'd like to her to know (it can be anything, silly or serious-the point is sharing something here with her that she doesn't know yet know about you or your life, that you'd like her to know).
• Thanking her for … (Personal thanks for whatever comes to mind) (Some of these things may overlap but that's fine).

A sampling of the responses from my nine brothers and sisters is posted here.