As she fell into slumber I strummed
a sweet song the last time her eyes were open.
Accepting she’s been gone for many years,
I still write her letters of gratitude, forgiveness & love.
Your motherly love;
my bouquet’s
foundation.
The universe
revealed upon
looking into your eyes.
Though dusk looms
now as my pedals fall,
your rosebud gift’s
fluorescence linger.
If I were to have any advice, it would be this: Tonight, when you return from school or work or, if you live far away, the next time you visit your mother, you may wish to go into her room and, with a calm and silent smile, sit down beside her. Without saying anything, make her stop working. Then, look at her for a long time, look at her deeply. Do this in order to see her, to realize that she is there; she is alive, beside you. Take her hand and ask her one short question to capture her attention, “Mother, do you know something?” She will be a little surprised and will probably smile when she asks you, “What, dear?” Keep looking into her eyes, smiling serenely, and say, “Do you know that I love you?” Ask this question without waiting for an answer. Even if you are thirty or forty years old, or older, ask her as the child of your mother. Your mother and you will be happy, conscious of living in eternal love. Then tomorrow, when she leaves you, you will have no regrets.
~ Thich Nhat Hanh, A Rose for Your Pocket: An Appreciation of Motherhood
smilecalm 
Your Mother’s tribute moved me, David, the roses and rose petals, poetry, and quote about love and forgiveness and connecting. I, too, was able to enjoy a special song with my mother on our last day together, and demonstrate my love to her. And what a gift that was. Thanks for reminding us of all the love there is to share.
mother inside & I thank you for this kind remembrance, Jet!
we have had special experiences, connections of past, present & future; how wonderful.
as a retired public health nutritionist we’ve done our best
helping others realize what they’re made of.
may your day be in beauty, david 🙂
What a perfect way to show attention and love to mother. Very touching.
i’m happy knowing it is received
by you as special, Deepak!
wishing you a happy day
of love 🙂
David, I am deeply touched by your praise to your mother, such sharing builds strength in both
mother and child.
Your poem and pictures of roses are so beautiful and tender. To finish off with this wonderful quote by
Touch Naht Hahn is brilliant.
May we all remember to show and tell of our love more frequent.
Miriam
wonderful hearing that you experienced
what i humbly tried to convey for this special mother’s day, Miriam!
after posing, the roses seemed to call for appropriate written sentiments.
may your day continue being one
filled with love 🙂
my mother
insane and dangerous
like a wild rose.
but where would i be
without her
thank you for the kind words, Tippy!
seems fitting that you’re
the prodigy of a wild rose
with all the beauty & thorniness
that’s pass along in seeds.
may your day in the garden
be spectacular 🙂
A beautiful reminder to make time to thank our mothers for life, David, and listen to the stories they carry about our roots. We never know how long they will be with us. ❤
appreciation for your gentle, mother’s wisdom, Carol.
wonderful reflection to listen to their stories to understand roots. many outside of aboriginal communities were brought up like rootless stock.
may your day be happy, david 🙂
so sweet and fragrant, like an oasis of roses that flows into eternity….
your sweet comment had me re-reading
what i posted and experiencing a touch
of that eternity, dear Linda!
may your day be a floral delight 🙂
Wow! Beautiful images and messages. Thanks for reminding me how lucky I am to be able to spend another day with my mom, who is now 95. You are such a blessing..Sent from my Galaxy Tab
thank you for these kind words, marty. quite special to have mother still physically present at 95.
she is quite fortunate to have your loving presence and care. may your day be sunny 🙂
Miss mine and go visit
her faraway memorial
site once or twice a year.
thank you for you kind reflection, Tom!
makes me happy knowing
you keep in touch
your own special way.
may your day be in beauty 🙂
I am so moved by this message – yours and Thich Nhat Hanh’s. Maybe I will write a letter to my mother who has passed. Or whisper my gratitude, forgiveness, love.
makes me happy that you find some guidance in this sharing, dear JoAnna!
i’m sure you will find the words & sentiment needed to share.
here is a short presentation of offering love letters by a former nun:
Thank you. David. I was not able to click on the link or find it by copying and pasting. But I appreciate your thoughtfulness.
sounds like a mystery, as it appears on my page. see if this link works:
“https://youtu.be/J-a2ZlOK0iE”
Thank you! I think I got it. 🙂
soBeautiful, so beautiful dear David, Thank you, Love, nia
makes me happy to receive the kind words
of a kind mother and carer of kitties & others, nia!
may your day continue being in happiness 🙂
How nice of you dear David, Happiness and Blessing, Thank you, Love, nia
Beautiful post in words and images. My father passed when I was just 6 years old so it was hard for my mother to talk about those years. But whenever i asked her questions her eyes would light up reliving precious memories from along ago… This has been my gift to her for so many years but until now I couldn’t describe it. There’s nothing like being woken up… jc
a bow & smile for your kind retrospection, dear JC.
here we are doing our best as continuations of mother & father.
so wonderful knowing of moments of awakening
over and over again 🙂
A heartfelt tribute to your mother, David ❤
thank you kindly, Rosaliene!
spending time piecing it together
it was a tender feeling of the heart!
may your day be a bouquet 🙂
I accept the bouquet, with thanks 🙂
A beautiful, thoughtful tribute 🌷
makes me happy that your find it so, Caz!
may you continue experiencing
today as special, david 🙂
As I read your heartfelt thoughts, I was overwhelmed by the many words I wish I shared with my mom before she took her life. One never knows when the time will come, when your last moment will be with the ones you love. If anything, it has taught me to live in each moment with love.
Thank you for this ~🌺~
humbly i listen to your deepest hurt, dear Linda. your encouragement to love those we’re with is so beautiful!
it’s extremely sad when loved ones end temporary painful feelings with permanent solutions.
yet, there’s a part of me that understands, having come close to being overwhelmed with despair.
perhaps Kaira Jewel’s lesson, above may offer a gentle consolation practice.
may you continue being a beautiful rose for yourself & your mother, david 🙂
Deeply moving, David 💗
smiling that you
find it so, dear Ka!
may your day
with mother be happy 🙂
Perfect advice.
i’m happy you
find it perfect, Neil!
wishing you a happy moment 🙂
Such loving thoughts… from the writer… and the recipient of the tribute from where these all came from…
Thank you for sharing…
the mother in me and I
are grateful for your kind reflection, nesfelicio!
may your day be filled with blossoms 🙂
What a beautiful tribute David. Thank you. And that opening photo is magnificent.
Alison
thank you for this kind recognition, Alison!
did get up on a ladder to get that angle.
then needed to write words that would
sing along with the rose.
may your day be well 🙂
A beautiful message to honour your mother and all mothers, David.
Thank you.
thank you dear Jean-Jacques
for your kind mother’s
day greeting
back to me 🙂
Thank you for such a beautiful post! We can’t hold on to our loved ones forever, but we can let them know that they are loved right now. ❤
i’m grateful for your supportive understanding!
yes, let them know 🙂
So beautiful. The last verse is very moving. 🙏🏻💕
a sleeping smile of thanks, Karen
as it could have been a momentary
inspirational illumination
at such a state as now 🙂
beautiful! 🌹
beautiful! 💖
thanking you, krcc
for the added
beauty 🙂
deserved another look at these breathtaking petals!
Beautiful. All of it: your words and Thich Nhat Hanh’s words. I wish my mom were here so I could look at her deeply and tell her I love her. Like you, I still write to her, and write about her. I didn’t always understand her, but I always loved her. And I know she loved (loves) me.
a morning smile for your kind, affirming note, Cheryl! Since you’re already writing to your mother there’s little reason to hear the love letter clip I posted above. wishing you and your mother a wonderful day of fun 🙂
Wonderful video. Very wise words for us all. I wasn’t clear in my earlier comment. The letters I wrote to my mother now are all just for me. She passed away in 2008.
i’m happy you watched and enjoyed! yes, i did understood about your letter writing despite her passing. may your day be well, david 🙂
And yours, David 🙂
very nice David
Happy Mother’s Day to All !
thank you for the kind message, leo!
may your day be a joyful celebration 🙂
Charlee: “This is such good advice for Mother’s Day!”
Chaplin: “I’m not sure I could manage to sit still long enough to do it, though.”
Lulu: “I could!”
thank you for visiting, furry ones!
little kitties can’t help
being mommies special ones,
whichever way youz go:-)
Dear David,
I am so happy that you include both gratitude and forgiveness–no duality. It shows the ability to love far beyond the equal exchange of this for that. True love surpasses the wanted and the unwanted.
With happiness,
Celia
smiling to your deeply listening and affirming sharing, Celia!
being barely 18 years older than i, divorced when i was 5,
my mother did her best under the circumstances,
but growing up without a father
things were often not pleasant during childhood.
thanks to Thay’s practice i clearly see her anew,
being fresh, a fragile 5 yr old and a luminescent gift
to me. She’s helping type right now 🙂
🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹
such nice 🌹!
makes me 🙂
Your post is a moving tribute to mothers, David. Thank you. Remembering being with my mother in her final moments and all the gifts that she gave me.
smiling to your kind reflection, Jane!
wonderful fondly remembering our mother
continuing uniquely, with happiness & creativity, within & without 🙂
Beautiful 🙂
smiling to your
kind 🙂
Everything about this post was gorgeous
thanks, dear lonely author!
unfortunately this was found in the spam folder.
i’m glad i looked and pulled it out 🙂
I guess I am a Spam kind of guy
just wouldn’t want
you stuck there 🙂
lol
thank you megwetch thank you megwetch
you made me cry
in a good way
seems wonderful
tending one’s garden of happiness!
“the tears I shed yesterday
have become rain” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
A beautiful and memorable post for Mother’s Day, David. (I love all those petals. 🌺🙂)
makes me happy that you find it so, Betty!
wishing all mothers’ feeling cared for today 🙂
It’s a beautiful question to ask mom. A lovely post!
smiling to your kind
& wonderful reflection, dear Christy!
i just found your comment in the spam folder
and i’m glad i looked and pulled it out.
may your day be well 🙂
David this is so sweet and beautiful. The quote really hit a nerve. Thank you 🙂
thank you for your kind words, Michele!
i feel a happy nerve touched in my
smile right now 🙂
This brought tears to my eyes just reading it, Imagine the power of receiving that gift in person.. 🙂 Thank you David.. I had a wonderful Mother’s Day back in March here in England.. and both my children I cherish and they both say I love you.. The best gift of all.. ❤
thank you for such a kind reflection, dear Sue!
makes me happy knowing you are so loved
by your children and so many others.
may your day be in happiness 🙂
And you in yours David.. 🙂
David, a moving post to your mother and how true that all mothers reveal the universe! The final quote by Thich Nhat Hanh is one that should be read by many who are just ‘too busy’ to visit ones mother … and will never overcome their regret. Beautiful tender images to accompany your words!
Absolutely beautiful! 💐