Mom the Amazing

Went berry picking with mom this morning.  I have a lot of childhood memories of mom, in her berry picking outfit (her bucket and bare hands), gathering up all the viable containers we had around the house, putting us all in the ol' jalopy to head "down river".  It was always a full day because once mom got started, we might not see her for hours because she found a good patch.  The berries we picked were blackberries and they covered the sides of a slow flowing creek.  The creek bottom was always cool in the hot summer heat and you would wade through the water to get to the best of the best.  Mom was always very thorough and wanted us to do the same but she never kept much of an eye on us because she was in her glory and probably just picked, thought, prayed and moved on.  I think it was a form of therapy for my mom and a break from the summer garden she spent so many hours tending.

Today it was a new kind of picking.  Picking strawberries from a u-pick patch on the Eastside of the valley.  My mom's a bit older now and the spring heat got to her quickly.  I told her to head to the shade and I would fill the last little bit of her bucket.  As I picked, thought, prayed and moved on, I shook my head at my sharpness toward my mom when she lovingly pointed out that I had missed strawberries.  Of course she was concerned about the berries that were left behind, that's not how she did it all those years ago. 

Today's strawberry patch was planted in many hill rows.  There were strawberries in the center of the plant and to the sides.  The ones on the sides cascaded down the hill and hung mostly in full sight.  As my thoughts wandered, I thought of the last few days.   My husband and I spent a couple of days at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in Bend, Oregon.  So many opportunities but which ones do you want us to pursue Lord?  The strawberries began to represent life.  The opportunity of life are at so many different stages.  Some are green, just starting to grow.  Some never get very big but are ripe.  Some are perfect, ripe for the picking.  Some you think look great but when you go to pick it, it mashes in your fingers; representing opportunities gone by.

A dear friend and relative posted the other day that it was the marking of two years since her dear mother passed.  She went on to say how much she missed her.  I'd say that today was just another opportunity to spend with my sweet mother and so reminiscent of days gone by.  This berry was just ripe for the picking.  Thanks Mom~  <3