Oh, Dear Mom, At The Time We Didn't Think Of It

She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
“Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, 

she shall be praised.

Prov.31:26-30 

Mom, a pic from years ago, in her happy place;

a garden with flowers

An old class-mate of mine shared a tribute on Facebook to his departed,

 much missed and beloved mum...

His comment to a memory I shared was the springboard to this year's mom-poem.

He said, "
At the time, we didn't think of it, but now we know how great she was!"

Oh, that says it all to all of us, doesn't it?!! 

At the time we didn’t think of it

We ate and played and dreamed and grew

And in the little blink of it

Learned more than, at the time, we knew

At the time we didn’t give much thought

To what a mother gives and takes

Or of the love that toiled and taught

While we soiled clothes, devoured cakes

At the time we didn’t see the half

Of what dear mother gave and prayed

Until the heart-shaped autograph

Of echoes and memories made

At the time we didn’t grasp the truth

Of values clad in common threads

We tore the cover off her youth

And benefited from its shreds

At the time we didn’t understand

The double-edge of love, but stood

Upon the labour of her hand

And tender tears of motherhood

At the time we thrived beneath her voice

Rebuked if willful words ran wild

Or cautioned in a world of choice

That starts to shape even a child

At the time we didn't know what we had

Or appreciate this careworn saint

Apron-clad and humming-glad

 Never stooping to complaint

At the time we didn’t realize

How much or often we would gaze

At what we now cherish and prize

And will, for all our living days

So now, as I try to express

My gratitude I hope somehow

You feel the humble thankfulness

For all that I am seeing now

Dear mom, today I/we honor you

As by God’s grace you gave your best

For your example, meek, strong, true

Your children rise and call you blessed

© Janet Martin