Sunday, May 11, 2008

Victorious

(From today's "Dedication" for Baby Nolan)


Two years ago, on Mother’s Day, my sister Ellen found out she was pregnant.

The structure of my family at that time was, to put it mildly, chaotic.

My father had died about a year and a half before, but we were all still trying to deal with it. Prior to his death, my parents were embroiled in a pretty ugly divorce, and my family was fragmented. My mother was the one to leave, and the family was reeling from it. As a result, she became Public Enemy #1.

My father’s death made matters worse, because there was the estate to deal with, and the battle over it broke the family even further. My mother, for most of my life, was my best friend. I tried to support her when she left during the divorce, but things got messy, things got angry.

But when my sister found out she was to become a mother, it marked a beginning of the turnaround in bringing the family back together.

Over the last year, Ellen and my mother, who have never been close and, in fact, bitterly at odds, reunited. Today, they are closer than anyone else in my family. Moreover, my mother’s return to the family unit seems to have made us whole again.

I don’t know if any of us kids ever fully appreciated the impact of our mother on our lives. At one point, she was working full-time, and raising five kids all under the age of eight. She was out mother and out father in many ways – she was the one who held all our secrets, who protected us, who fed us and hugged us, and rubbed our backs when we had fevers.

My mother was the one who forgave our shortcomings, no questions asked. She cried for us, and for our rebellion against her, but she never questioned her love or stopped loving us, no matter how much we messed up.

And we messed up good.

Today, two years after my sister found out she was pregnant on Mother’s Day, I sat next to my mother as we watched Ellen and her family baptize (“dedicate” they call it) her son to God. I was surrounded by my family, on the day which we come together to celebrate and appreciate the women who raise us and shape us into the people we are today.

I love my mom – I don’t tell her nearly enough. I missed her during those years. A lot. She was there almost every minute of every day the entire time I was in the hospital, and she may never know how much that meant to me.

When my mom hugged me “hello” this morning, she called me “my angel.” I know she meant it. And she that to us, as well - never judging, always supporting, always guiding.

In addition to this, I thought this was interesting and wanted to mention it. The congregation leader spoke about pain and suffering today. He spoke about how we have a choice in our suffering – to be victims or be victors.

My ears perked up – see, when Cheese and I fight, and he says something that hurts my feelings and I call him on it, he tells me I am playing the victim. And I absolutely hate that - I have never seen myself as a victim, or at least I didn’t think so.

But as I sat there today, it hit me that, in the last few weeks, I have made myself a victim – I have moaned about how I hurt, or what I lost, or what I can’t do or whatever else I found on that day to bitch about.

But what I haven’t done is celebrate all the things that I have – I have health, I have family, I have a body that was able to produce the healthiest possible organ for my brother, and I have a accomplishment of an Ironman and will that allow me to comeback soon and stronger than before. I have incredible friends that have given me words, hugs, shoulders and calls of support. I have a family that is very much healthy, and now whole.

I have more than I don’t, and I am not a victim. I would say that, looking at my life, I am very much a victor.


16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your thoughts on your mom made me cry (sure it's a day that I always cry; becoming a mom helps me enjoy Mother's Day now, but it also makes me miss my mom even more.) Really though, lovely post.

It's nice that you seem to be feeling better too. We all have our victim moments, and I think that's OK, but it's so much more powerful to be the victor. That's a daily battle I have a hard time with myself, and I'm not even recovering from having an organ removed :)

The Big Cheese said...

...there she is. Welcome back, baby.

Andra Sue said...

Indeed you are. Great post. :)

The Young Family said...

Great post! I am truly glad to hear your family has come around and come out stronger. Our family is the middle of a sibling rivalry that is well, "way out of control". So it gives me great encouragment to hear it was turned around in your family's case.

Love the message the pastor spoke, very true words. I have overcome many things and I know those words are true, victim or victor? I choose Victor as well!!

Em

Michelle J said...

Awesome.

Go Mom Go said...

Sometimes you just have to accept that God has been trying and trying to get a message through to you...and yesterday he succeeded. That is truly Grace.

I really appreciate what you have to say about your mother and I hope that someday my children will say the same about me.

Peace! Laura

Alili said...

IronMeg the Victorious! That can be your Greek mythology name:)

Danni said...

Love it!
You are one strong woman, Meg.

Melissa said...

Thanks for sharing from your heart.

Molly said...

What a story!
Regardles of what you thought...I never thought of you as a victim!
You Rock!
Take Care

Jen in Budapest said...

Thank you for your very honest and open blog. I can relate to you about being convicted on being a victim versus being a victor. Thank you for your honesty. And I think thankfulness is the best medicine for victim mentality. I pray your journey in this area continues to go well. :D I hope mine does too as it is a journey in this life.

Benson said...

Very nice to read this post. You say things so well. You really are a winner.

prin said...

I'm with Molly- I never saw you as a victim. IMO, you handled it way better and more positively than I ever would have.

You've never stopped being the fighter.

(hugs)

Anonymous said...

that was beautiful. go jc. - ellie

Anonymous said...

You listened?

kodiacbear said...

Yeah, I almost cried here too. Its a beautiful post, Megan, and I texted my sister--since we don't talk anymore-with an I love you (tried calling, she won't answer.
Thank You for the inspiration.