Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Sylvia at
Poetry for Children for Roundup.
Today, on the Friday before Mother's Day, I am excited to share with you a bit of mother-love.
It came to me by way of quilter who read
LEAVING GEE'S BEND.
LEAVING GEE'S BEND is a book about a girl who loves her mother more than anything. When she embarks on a journey to find medical help for her mom, it's her mother's voice in her head that guides her. Mama is full of wisdom, and Ludelphia tries to listen.
This part of the book was inspired by MY mother's words of wisdom to me: "Err on the side of Love."
So, last year, when I spoke to
Birmingham Quilters Guild, one of the amazing quilters Ann Griffin presented me with this quilt piece, with the instructions to take it with me on my travels and add bits of wisdom. Here's what it looks like right now:
Wisdom of Our Mothers
If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.
There are seasons in your life. Don't worry if you can't do it now. You will.
What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.
Read the Bible.
If you make your bed hard, don't forget you've got to lay in it.
Before you speak: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?
Pray about it.
Don't put your elbows on the table.
Love one another.
Wherever you are keep you're peace shoes on.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Wipe from the front to the back.
Nice girls do NOT fight!
If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.
Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
You look good in pink.
Act well your part, for there all honour lies.
Pretty is as pretty does.
The best way to cure the "blues" is to do something nice for someone.
Be the best that you can be.
You must have passion! If there's anything I'd like to pass on to you, it's that passion will energize you.
Learn to enjoy your own company.
Be kind.
Forgive.
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There's still room for more... a poem of sorts! If you have some mother-wisdom you'd like to share, please put it in comments. Thank you!
I can't tell you how nurtured I've felt by each of these books. And since I can't tell you everything I loved about them, I will share one takeaway from each that springs first to mind.
I LOVE THIS. What a generous outlook! Creativity as abundance! And guess what? When I was at Texas Library Association conference in Houston, I met and shared a panel with K.A. Holt (author of verse novel HOUSE ARREST, which I loved). In her closing comments, Kari Anne revealed her work-in-progress about Guatemalan kids who ride atop trains across Mexico to cross into the U.S. I couldn't help it, I started smiling so big! Because *I* started a book several years ago with the same premise. But mine stalled out, and now here's Kari Anne writing the book, as she was meant to. I can't wait to read it.
