Kind. Welcoming. Loving. Supportive. There are many attributes one wishes to find in a mother-in-law. And I hit the mother load.
I loved her right away. She was fun and intentional. She was quirky and stern. She was strong and independent. She was small but mighty, and I adored her. She embraced me and my daughters as if we had always been there… as if we were always a part of her family.
To my mother-in-law,
Thank you for being the mother-in-law I hope to be someday. Thank you for raising a son who is respectful and honoring. Thank you for teaching him how to love and care for his wife. Thank you for teaching him what it looks like to follow Jesus. I pray that I teach my kids the same.
Thank you for your love. From the moment I became a part of your family, you showed my daughters and me so much love. I hope to show my future sons and daughter-in-law that same love, acceptance, and support.
Thank you for your investment in my family. Thank you for coming alongside us as parents, giving advice, and teaching our kids. Thank you for always making time for us and for wanting to build our relationships.
Thank you for being vulnerable yourself. You consistently provided a safe space to be vulnerable. There were many times of talking for hours… being real and raw, sharing stories and lessons. You walked with me through my miscarriages because you had been there. I hope to someday walk through the messy, the hard, the joyful, and the abundant with my future sons and daughter-in-law.
Thank you for praying with me… for praying over me… for praying for me. Your unwavering faith and commitment to prayer and being in relationship with Jesus inspired and encouraged me. You were a woman of God, and I hope to be that example to my family.
Thank you for your creativity and encouragement. There weren’t many occasions that weren’t greeted by a beautiful handmade card and an encouraging word.
Thank you for your faith and love… for your encouragement and support… for your lessons and recipes… for your traditions and prayers… for keeping ALL the things… for accepting me and my girls… for being a woman I could look up to and aspire to be… for the fun and thoughtfulness… Thank you for being exactly who God made you to be.
With all my love,
Nikki
My mother-in-law passed away two years after I married her son. The time seems too short, but I am so grateful for her and the time I had. I miss her dearly and think of her daily.
I hope to embody the traits she shared with me. And I hope my future sons and daughter-in-law will feel exactly how she made me feel… Loved… Seen… Accepted.
