The "Mom" Pillow

Last week my son came home from a day at grandmas with a gift.  He was extremely excited about this gift, because he had helped make it. 

“Close your eyes mom,” he ordered with his hands behind his back.  Now, grandma’s place is a very crafty, creative place, so my head was swimming with ideas of what my “gift” could be.  “Hold out your hands, mom.”  I did as I was told.  My son loved the drama and made we stand there a few seconds just to enjoy the moments of anticipation.  He set something soft in my hands and I opened my eyes.  “It’s a pillow!” he shouted.  “I made it for you.”  As I looked down, I saw that he had a little help, because there was a soft, suede pillow with matching trim and the word, “Mom” embroidered across the front. 

I set the pillow in our window seat…thinking it would be more decorative than useful.  But my assumption was quickly revoked, as my son asked why I wasn’t using it.  He made me lie down and lifted my head to slide the pillow under my neck.  He then gently pushed my forehead down and asked, “There mom…doesn’t that feel good?”  He wanted me to be aware of its all-purpose functionality.  I had to agree.  It was a good neck pillow.  “Yes, Tyler, thank you.”  “Can I get up now?” 

Later that day, I picked up that pillow and studied the letters M-O-M lovingly inscribed.  I realized that this object represents what we women and mothers are.  We are the “pillows” in the lives of the people we love. 

We provide comfort and rest for our families.  We soften the blows in life by offering advice and encouragement.   In our presence, people can dream, be themselves and find rest.  We don’t judge.  We provide peace and give comfort.  People can come to us and cry out there fears and feel better.  We help those around us and elevate them to the position that we envision for them.    

While we don’t have all the answers for the trials that our loved ones face – we do provide an irreplaceable sense of calm.  We provide a safe environment for the people we love.  Those we come into contact with always leave feeling better.  These are unmistakable qualities that pillows and women share.    We don’t need a hard edge to us to accomplish what we want to accomplish in life.  We do all that by being like a pillow. 

Every mother needs a “mom pillow” to remind them of the wonderful qualities they possess that help the people they love.  As I look at mine, I think of my son.  What a wonderful gift.  He needs a lot of love and rest and peace.  And now I have a meaningful symbol of how I strive to give him that every day.