On this mother’s day, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the three mothers that the Finlayson-Fife team lost in early 2024. Within six weeks of each other Kristi, John, and I each lost our mothers. It has been a significant blow, to say the least. Saying goodbye to three remarkable women who each impacted our lives so substantively has not been easy. Each of them had different gifts, histories, and challenges. And I imagine each of them at times doubted the significance of their contributions to the world. But we each stand as witnesses to the fact that sincerely caring about another human being, no matter how imperfectly, has impact. It is what matters the most.
I think it is fair to say that, for all three of us, it is the small, meaningful interactions that we miss the most—the moments of acknowledgment, shared laughter, or care when we were struggling. It is also just their simple presence in our lives—the ability to pick up the phone and share an experience or a laugh—this is what we miss so terribly.
Sometimes we think for our lives to be significant, our endeavors have to be grand. In my view they only must be sincere, they only need to come from genuine love for one another. Beyond that, we are all pretty powerless. Those of us who are parents know how little we can do to protect our children from pain or the impact of their own challenges. Yet, it’s important not to forget that simply caring about another human being—wanting what is best for them, being a loving witness to their lives—is everything. It is what we can do. And every time we do it, it counts. We will fail often. I fail often at love, but standing up and trying again is what matters most.
1 Corinthians 13: 2-3, 8 (NEB):
“I may have the gift of prophecy, and know every hidden truth; I may have faith strong enough to move mountains; but if I have no love, I am nothing. I may dole out all I possess, or even give my body to be burnt, but if I have no love, I am none the better. … Love never fails.
So on this Mother’s Day, I send my respect to the mothers who have loved and sacrificed for us, and to all women who forsake convenience to care for those that look to you, who need your love. You make the world a better place. <3
