Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Mother (as in maternal parent) (04/24/08)
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TITLE: Lacking true definition. | Previous Challenge Entry
By Larry Griffith
04/29/08 -
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Just out of curiosity, I looked in the dictionary to see how it defined ‘mother’. As I suspected, they came up way short. Their definition of mother started off with ‘ a female parent’. Then they went on to define mother as ‘a woman of authority or a superior in a religious community’. Like a Mother Teresa, I suppose. After that the dictionary gave other definitions of the word mother that I won’t even try to describe or discuss.
I read all the given definitions, even looking in another dictionary just to find that they missed it too. The online dictionary was no better. No available source of information came anywhere close to capturing the thoughts and feelings that I have when I hear the word mother.
This realization is not necessarily a slam against the people that put our dictionaries together, but rather a glowing tribute and honor to my own mother. It is not the fault of the folks down at Merriam-Webster that their definition of mother is so lacking. After all, as far as I know, none of them ever met my mom. That is a shame, because if they had met her, their definition would have been a lot longer and a lot more descriptive. There is no way they could have defined mother the way that they did if they knew what I know. So I won’t hold it against them. I think maybe I should just define the word mother for them. Listen up Merriam. And, you too, Webster.
Mother: God’s bearer of life; the vessel that God used to deliver me, and my siblings, into this world. From the day of my birth she was my source of sustenance. She was my caretaker, my diaper changer, my nurturer, my clothier, my protector, my teacher, my nurse, and my doctor. She was also my first, and best ever, storyteller.
In our home she was the cook, the cleaner, the decorator, the planner, the chauffeur, the scheduler, and sometimes, the drill sergeant. As I grew so did her list of titles. Things like homework monitor, dirt checker, room inspector, report card examiner, dietitian, personal trainer, and, just when it seemed that it I needed it most, she would become my biggest cheerleader.
When I became a young adult, her influence continued to grow right along with me. Ever changing and adapting to meet my current needs. Financial advisor, sometimes my bank, career counselor, moral compass, spiritual advisor, marriage counselor, and every once in while, my dry cleaner as well.
I have no doubt, that if she were still among the living, this list of titles would have continued to grow as I have grown as a person. I also know that, like Merriam-Webster, and despite my best efforts, even my definition of mother is lacking. Some things in our lives, and some special people, cannot be accurately described with mere words. It’s just not possible.
The last title, and perhaps the most important one of all, started the day that Mom left this world. Side by side with Jesus, she is now the 'preparer of a place in heaven for me.’ Thanks for everything, Mom. I’ll see you later.
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