Life Notes: Treasures of the Heart
by Erin Rockett, NCC, LPC, LMFT

As Mother’s Day approaches, thoughts turn to home and family. With a grateful heart, I’d like to acknowledge the talented and amazing woman who profoundly shaped lives. Her generous, compassionate spirit inspired my life’s work.

My mother introduced children to priceless experiences during preschool years. Early on we learned to love the tunes of Johnny Cash, Strauss, and the Moody Blues. My playmates crowded the living room for Irish dance lessons. I received an illustrated Bible and began reading before kindergarten. Science fascinated me at a young age, and I remember examining snowflakes with magnifying glasses and making rainbows with glass prisms. Fond memories remain of stargazing and gardening. Our nature preserve at home included orphaned birds, squirrels, raccoons, and deer. One day Mom brought a dozen baby chicks to school for science class.

Creativity marked Mom’s daily routine. She constantly painted, embroidered, and sculpted projects. She enrolled me in ballet and art classes at age six, and faithfully attended recitals and displayed masterpieces on the refrigerator. The kitchen served as the household activity hub, where dishes like apple streudel and corned beef took center stage.

Mother’s health declined during our teenage years, but emotional support continued through adolescent storms. She applauded first crushes and hovered in the background through broken hearts. Pride in my extracurricular and academic accomplishments shine through her smile as displayed in graduation pictures. Imagine the excitement of both of us as we shopped for the furnishings for my first college dorm room.
The following year my mother lost a courageous, year-long battle against cancer. Her zest for life and her giving spirit touched the lives of those she knew, even up to the days just before her untimely death.

Thanks for the memories, Mom … until we meet again.
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The Life Notes articles are written by staff of Louisiana Methodist Children’s Home and are published in The Ruston Daily Leader.