Home to Me

I received an e-mail from the James Avery Jewelry ( www.jamesavery.com ) website the other day with an announcement of a writing contest on the topic of "Stories of a Mother's Love" in honor of Mother's Day next month. At the urging of a co-worker, I submitted a poem to the contest that I wrote for my Mother's 80th birthday. I am so blessed by my Mom and love to reflect back on all the years of her love and sacrifice for me, for my sisters and for my Dad. I am a very lucky girl. So, although Mother's Day is over a month away, take some time today to reflect upon and appreciate your own mother. You wouldn't be here without her!

(And, if you like this poem and want to "vote" for it in the contest, you can go to the website address above. There are MANY wonderful submissions that you may want to read - or even submit your own. Should you want to vote for mine, you will find it about eleven pages from the last...there were 32 pages last I looked...and growing...and was submitted on April 2. The title is "Home to Me.") I love you Mom!

Home to Me

I run into your arms
As fast as my little legs can take me.
You hug me tight
I hug you tight
I smell your hair, your skin
They are home to me.

You have a look you give
Sometimes out of nowhere
For no reason I can see.
But you smile, your eyes twinkle
And tear and look at me with
Pride and affection.
Your hand reaches out, squeezes mine.
I return the look, the squeeze
For you are home to me.

Your words are powerful
They stand the test of time.
They reverberate and echo
In the chambers of my mind.
Words of correction, of encouragement
Sometimes reprimand, but always love.
I listen and eventually hear
For your voice is home to me.

My mother’s hug, her smell, her touch, her words, her love
will always be home to me.