April was for showers. May is for flowers!Sing along if you know this tune. Though April showers may come your way. They bring the flowers that bloom in May So if it’s raining, have no regrets Because it isn’t raining rain, you know it’s raining violets. May is for flowers. May is for mothers. And May is also the month we commemorate Imma Mary. When I was in 1st grade, we had moved to a new town midyear. I was terribly shy and self conscious. It was early in May, and I had forgotten to tell my parents that the May crowning of Mary would be held at Friday Mass. Now if you aren’t Catholic, it’s simply a little ceremony where we reflect on the importance of Mary as the Mother of Little Jesus. It’s much like how we reflect on the importance of our own mothers and grandmothers. It was not required, but children were invited to bring flowers from their home flower gardens to set on the display. I had forgotten about the flowers for May crowning until we were headed out the door for school drop off. And a quick glance at the flower bed as we walked to the car revealed there wasn’t anything “pickable” to grab. I don’t recall sulking but I likely did. And I was mortified that I wouldn’t have a flower when my new classmates likely would. Later that morning as my class was walking to church, I saw my mother standing near the side door that we used to get to our assigned pews. My mother was holding a single pink rose tucked into a damp paper towel wrapped in foil. She smiled at me as I walked past and tucked that foiled stem into my hand. It was the only bud on that rose bush and I don’t know how it managed to bloom that morning. She worked at a doctor’s office and likely traded her lunch break for the time to come to my school. And maybe that wasn’t even a rose from our yard. I don’t recall now if I ever properly thanked her for that little sacrifice she made that day for me. That has long stood out to me as the way that Mothers operate. Mothers know the situation and all that is at stake. And somehow while nobody is watching they swoop in and patch up the issue and move ahead gracefully to the next situation. As a mother, that’s how I often operate. My mother did, too. And you know what? I am pretty certain that Imma Mary operated that way as well. Keep reading for April highlights!
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