Full disclosure: This is a Mother’s Day piece I wrote two years ago. It came to mind this week when I read a Facebook post from a cousin. Her mom, my aunt, died earlier this year and this is the first Mother’s Day she has experienced without her. My mom has been gone now for 15 years and I still remember those first holidays without her.
My cousin’s post said, “For those who still can, please call your mother on Mother’s Day. You never know when that last one might be!”
Here’s what I wrote in 2022……
I believe I’ve told you before that I’m a fan of country music.
Don’t scroll by! This might be interesting!
Some people might claim that the stuff I listen to isn’t “true” country music. Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, etc. Maybe there’s too much of a rock influence?
Who was it that said…
Harlan Howard was a writer in the 50s and 60s who once described country music as “three chords and the truth.” Then for more than forty years, he let that saying be his guide with everything he wrote.
The lyrics sometimes are just so powerful!
I thought about a new song the other day that seems appropriate for Mother’s Day. It’s not specifically about moms, as many country songs are, but the message works.
Til You Can’t
The song is titled “Til You Can’t” by Cody Johnson, written by Benjamin Stennis and Matthew Rogers. The basic point is: There will always be plenty of chances to do something with the ones you love….Til You Can’t.
You can tell your old man
You’ll do some largemouth fishing another time
You just got too much on your plate to bait and cast a line
You can always put a rain check in his hand
‘Til you can’t
You can keep putting off forever with that girl who’s heart you hold
Swearing that you’ll ask some day further down the road
You can always put a diamond on her hand
‘Til you can’t
If you got a chance, take it, take it while you got a chance
If you got a dream, chase it, ’cause a dream won’t chase you back
If you’re gonna love somebody
Hold ’em as long and as strong and as close as you can
‘Til you can’t
Here’s the mom connection…
So take that phone call from your momma and just talk away
‘Cause you’ll never know how bad you wanna ’til you can’t someday
Don’t wait on tomorrow ’cause tomorrow may not show
Say your sorries, your I-love-yous, ’cause man you never know
I thought of this while on Facebook this weekend. There were so many posts from friends who have lost their moms. The overall thought being…”I wish I could talk to you just one more time!”
I’m sure I’m as guilty as anyone else: there were probably plenty of times when I should have visited mom or at least called, but I was busy and figured there would be time later. Maybe there was on that certain week but we eventually got to the “Til You Can’t “ part.
It seems we get to a point in life where we crave just one more call. Maybe we need help with a problem or we need an answer that only mom can give. We need guidance or a hug or someone to just say, “Everything will be okay.”
I do believe…
My faith tells me that mom does know what’s going on in my life and she is still with me daily. I often hear her words of wisdom as I go about my day. “God never gives us more than we can handle” was one of her favorites. Of course, I’ve always thought that God must have a different view than me as to what I can handle.
If your mom is still with us on this Mother’s Day…reach out. Place a call. Stop by for a visit. If there’s been some words between you over the years, say you’re sorry. Forgive. Forget. Move on.
And remember : There will always be time to get together and talk…Til You Can’t.
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