Our Mother's Hope

“Everyone wants to be loved and paid attention to.” – Marty Newey

Our Mother's Hope

“We are the people our mothers warned us about.”  I slowed and let the other car move past me a little bit, just so I could read it again.  This little saying, and warning, caused me to reflect.

“Am I a person my mother warned me about?”

Bob Conard’s voice echoed in my heart.  “My dear old mother.”  Then, after this introduction, he would go on to tell me some of the great advice his mother had given him.  His mother is a water-color artist and one of the most beautiful people I’ve ever met.  She’s always been loving, caring and patient, as long as I’ve known her. 

I’ll never forget the day Bob showed me one of her emotionally-tugging water-color-paintings.  The beauty of her work is nearly a perfect reflection of her soul.  Both are master pieces as well as treasures.

I’ve known my friend, Marty Newey, for forty-two years now and treasure his friendship.  He sent me a message a couple of weeks ago and asked me to have lunch with him.  I leapt at the chance.  A few days later, we met at a comfortable restaurant, a place where we could talk.  After all, the real purpose of our meeting was to feed our souls, to re-connect.  The food, while delightful, was a simple metaphor of how a soul is fed.  Strong personal relationships, deep human connection, is what we all crave.

“My mother says, ‘Everyone wants to be loved and paid attention to.’” Marty rehearsed to me as we stood talking in the adjacent courtyard after lunch.

Then he went on to tell me how an employee of his mother’s assisted living home came to her apartment to meet with his mother.

“She walked into my mother’s place and my mother burst out with, ‘Oh my gosh, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen!’  They spent a few minutes together and when the case worker walked out and began to pass me she said, ‘If your mother ever needs a place to live please have her come and live with me!’  My mother pulled me aside and said, ‘Complement other people as much as possible!’  She does and the impact is amazing!”  Marty expressed in his quiet, thoughtful way.

I stood laughing, because his story was amazing!  In the end, Marty and I hugged each other as we parted.  Our stomachs and our souls were full, recharged, so we could go out and make a difference in the world again.

I felt at peace as I drove to my next meeting, right up until I read, “We are the people our mothers warned us about.”  I slowed and let the other car move past me a little bit, just so I could read it again.  This little saying and warning caused me to reflect.

“Think of the wonderful people we’d be if we simply followed the advice and lives of Bob’s and Marty’s mothers!” I said to myself.  If we did, the bumper sticker would say, “We are the people our mothers hoped we’d become!”