Forget-Get-Me-Nots

Almost twenty years ago, my husband and I attended a wedding and came home with a packet of Forget-Me-Nots. The bride, the daughter of friends of ours, was thinking ahead. Giving out these packets of Forget-Me-Nots was a very wise thing for her to do. In essence, she wanted all of her wedding guests to always remember her and to never forget her.

Consequently, each spring when these flowers bloom, I am reminded of this young woman, who, like her mother and me, continues to pilgrim along in a similar fashion, down the road of being a wife and a mom. It’s not an easy path to tread and my hope is that she too has a community of other mothers for support.

Years ago, while we were raising our family of sons, we were magnetically attracted to those, who like us, were on the same road called marriage and parenting. Thus, we found a community of people with whom we could lean on, rely on and trust.

 There were potluck gatherings to celebrate birthdays, funerals where we mourned our losses and hands on help with constructing or adding on to our homes. When needed, we sought out each other’s advice, counsel or prayer; cloth or disposable diapers, homemade or store bought baby food, home school or public? Consequently, though we raised our kids together, we also gave each other the needed support to mature in our marriages and in our faith.

Now, as the Forget-Me-Nots are in full bloom, I think about this young woman along with all those other little ones whose lives I was a small part of.  

Occasionally my path crosses that of one of those full grown little ones and when I do, we always exchange warm hearted greetings and maybe even a hug. If they have offspring, they introduce me to their kids and I can’t help but see the resemblances of their parents and their grandparents. 

Looking back, it was a privilege for me to be involved in a community where parents and married couples had each other to lean on, rely on and trust. A community where when needed we found advice, counsel and time to pray for and with each other. 

Why Bother? 

Why bother with Forget-Me-Nots? When I see the Forget-Me-Knots in full bloom, I’m reminded of all those who I need to remember. I am reminded to pray for those who, like their parents, are treading down the road called marriage and parenting, a road that is not easily traveled

P. S.  You can find my book, A Heart’s Journey To Forgiveness at Redemption Press and Amazon.