I look back upon generations and generations of mothers and all they have done to make sure their sons and daughters grow up to be good and healthy people.
When I was little, my one grandmother used to slip me cookies when my mother wasn’t looking. My other, chocolate. But with these treats came gentle admonitions and pearls of wisdom.
“You’re a good boy,” the one would say. “Make sure you grow up to be a good man.”
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” the other would say. “But dentists need to feed their families too.”
My mom, of course, had a much more direct hand in my upbringing. Like all boys, I was fed, clothed, watered, cleaned, educated.
But mom did more than her duty as a parent.
Mom made sure I learned my alphabet and could read and print before kindergarten so that I would have a head start over other kids. Mom let me use her electric typewriter to write stories when I was six. Mom gave me a quarter a week for allowance so I would learn how to economize and manage money. Mom took me to church so I would know who God is and what a pleasure it was to walk with Him.
She made sure the holiday decorations were hung just so to make each special day feel good and right. She made sure I had friends to play with, games to play, records to listen to, books to read.
These days I often find myself saying things like “My mother once told me …” or “When I was a boy, there was this one time that my mother took me to …”
Good men remember their mothers and keep them in their hearts. Half of what we are, we owe to our mothers, and if we forget that fact, it’s like denying a part of ourselves.
My own mother is a wonderful woman, and today I say to her, thank you, for all you have done for me.
And to Elyse Bruce, the Founder and Creator of MIC, I thank you for all you have done for so many children, and moms around the world. Your initiative has improved the lives of thousands upon thousands, and your legacy will live on.
Happy Mother’s Day!
Thomas D. Taylor
Co-Creator
MIDNIGHT IN CHICAGO
