Mother’s Day in America is next weekend, and many people are bustling about trying to find gifts for the moms or grandmothers in their lives. I am no exception, and in the past, I often stressed about finding the ‘perfect’ gift. I wanted it to reflect that I knew my mom’s tastes and preferences—whether it was her favorite perfume, flowers, candy, or something that was just right for her home or garden It was the same for my grandmothers—and later for my mother-in-law and my husband’s grandmothers as well. Wow! How could an occasion that was meant to be joyful and to honor the special ladies in my life be so stressful?

When I became a mother, I figured something out. It’s not the gift that matters, but the love that comes with the giving. A fistful of wilted flowers. A plate of half-burned cookies. A meticulously drawn Mother’s Day card of me (stick figure #1) with all of my children (more stick figures in various sizes and shapes). A tiny, folded slip of paper with a promise to weed the front flower bed. All of these gifts were worth more to me than all the money in the world.

As my children grew, their gifts for me obviously became more expensive, but the thought and love behind them stayed the same. However, I can honestly say that one of the very best Mother’s Day gifts I ever received was a hand-written letter from one of my children who had no money to buy a gift. The letter expressed how much it meant that my pastor husband and I made the sacrifices for me to stay home and invest in all of their lives as a homeschooling mom—taking them to church every Sunday, reading aloud every day, making special treats, going on nature walks, cooking meals, incorporating sitting down together at mealtimes as a family, and being available to love and nurture them in both the good times and the hard. Letters like that are priceless. 

I believe that letting someone know how and why they’re special–IN WRITING—is one of the most precious gifts ever. I am not as consistent with this myself as I should be, and it’s my goal to write more letters this year. And although this is something that can absolutely be done for special occasions, such as on Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s Day, etc., it can also be a ‘just because I love you’ gift as well.

So, if you are strapped for time or money, or if you want to really express your heart’s feelings or thanks to a special lady in your life for Mother’s Day, consider putting your thoughts down in writing. This would also be a great time to teach our children the art of letter writing as well. As a grandparent of a tiny baby girl, I know I would love to receive a handwritten letter from her in the future. Moreover, with our current practice of texting and emailing, a REAL letter would be a prized treasure for any mother or grandmother! And if you want to get extra fancy, there are lovely stationery sets or wax seal stamp kits available that would level up the gift even more. But again, a sheet of notebook paper torn from a binder, but filled with sincere and heartfelt sentiments is just as precious. It may sound trite, but it truly is the thought that counts.

Here are a couple of resources that I thought were lovely and helpful.

I especially want to invest in Victoria’s new book, The Art of Correspondence: A Letter is Practically a Gift.

Wax Seal Stamp Kit (different initials available)

Yes, it’s fun and enjoyable to shop for Mother’s Day gifts for my mom and mother-in-law, and I still like to find that extra-special little treasure I think they’ll each like. But I also know that a real letter, written from my heart, can also be the perfect gift. In fact, this year they may get both!

Whatever the occasion, let’s remember to let family members (husband, children, parents, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, etc.) and friends know how much they mean to us—and put it in writing!

Blessings,

Amy

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