Council of Moms and Nanas

A few weeks ago I told you about meeting the Bruce Feiler who is the author of “A Council of Dads.”  https://nanahood.com/the-council-of-dads

Ever since I read the book I have been thinking about it.  To summarize the book a little bit, the author finds out that he has cancer and he decides to ask six of his friends to be a council of dads for his twin daughters. If he can’t be there for them as they grow up, then he wants his friends to. There is much more to it than that, but you get the general idea.

So, reading the book made me stop and think, if I found out tomorrow that I had cancer, who would I ask to be on my Council of Moms or my Council of Nanas? What would the qualifications for my council be? How many women would I choose?

Mr. Feiler’s children are young but just because my children are grown doesn’t mean they wouldn’t need a mother figure in their lives. My mom has been gone for twenty years and I still find myself wishing I could ask her a question, go out to dinner with her, or just tell her about my day. And as for my grandchildren, well hopefully there will be many more but that doesn’t mean I will be around to greet them all. My mom died before the twins were born and there are so many things they will never know about her and so many ways they would have benefited from having had a relationship with her.

I started my list and quickly realized that there is no way I could limit it to six. I also realized that one reason the book touched me so deeply is that  the author took the time to tell his friends what he loved about them and asked them to share that quality with his children.

Telling people what we love about them is a good thing, and something we should do more often. So here goes….

Annette-I love your nurturing personality and the way you want to take care of everyone. You are a “mother” through and through. Take care of my children and grandchildren…mother them to pieces.

Mosier Sisters-Fun. Make my children and grandchildren laugh until they cry. Help them squeeze every ounce of joy from life….but don’t get them in trouble!

Kelly-When I think of you the word “fearless” comes to mind. Talk to my children and grandchildren about courage and determination. They’ll listen to you because they know you would swim an ocean to get to them if they needed you.

Debbie, Kiera, Mandy, Brittany, Paulette-The sound of your laughter is infectious, Your smiles light up even the darkest night…keep them laughing.

Sharon, Pam, Kim, Tootsie….teach them power of lasting friendship over time and how it grows and strengthens like the roots of a tree.

Martha and Sarah…soul sisters, hearts and family history connected to mine…share your unshakable faith, your ability to teach and lead others to Jesus, and the joy of grandparenting.

None of us are guaranteed tomorrow. So tonight when I say my prayers I will say….

Now I lay me down to sleep. I ask the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I ask my Council my children and grandchildren to take. Keep them in your loving care and let them lean on you when I am no longer there. Amen

One of the greatest gifts we can give our friends is to love their children and grandchildren like they were our own. Give them our phone numbers. Friend them on Facebook. Take them to lunch and a movie. Let them know they are loved and what it is you love about their mom or nana.

Love is an amazing thing and has the power to reach down through generations-if we take the time to pass it along.

 

Before you go—pass some love along by writing me at teresa@nanahood.com and telling me about a mom who deserves to be honored next week. You might win a queen size quilt to give her! Even if you don’t win the prize it’s a great way to honor your mother or a mother you know who deserves some recognition. If you haven’t done so, please read about how to enter.   (Yes, I want to enter contest!)