Christmas Is a Mothers Love

The Christmas season always presents us with the stark reminder of the importance of love, compassion and selfless behavior.  It is the one time of the year when we universally make sacrifices that place others before our own comforts and desires - a reminder that life is so much more important than just ourselves.  Such a reminder was recently brought to light.

There was once a day when the most beautiful women could be found in three professions.  They were actresses, models and airline stewardesses. 

Stewardesses traveled the world.  Their layovers allowed them to spend time in exotic locales and because of their beauty they were always in demand for evening and night time activities.  A date with an airline stewardess was considered a trophy date that brought with it legitimate bragging rights.

It was also a time when pregnancies out of wedlock carried with them a harsh social stigma.  As such, they were always dealt with very quietly and very discreetly.  Should a young lady find herself burdened with an unwanted pregnancy she would vanish for a time to an unwed mother’s home miles away from where anyone would know her.  She would get proper care, give birth and then her baby would be adopted.  She would then return home and renew her life as it was before her pregnancy.  Naturally, a word was never breathed to anyone except for those who had an absolute need to know.  Such was the case with a stewardess over 40 years ago.

Over the years she had married and had a family of her own.  Only her husband, and no one else in their lives, was aware of the daughter she gave up for adoption.

A mother’s love can be unparalleled.   Over the decades, the former stewardess’s love never diminished nor did her yearning for the opportunity to be part of the daughter’s life.  Finally, her husband contacted the family attorney requesting he find the daughter.

The daughter now lived some 1,500 miles away and was in a longstanding marriage with a daughter of her own and had a successful professional career.  Next the adoptive parents were contacted and asked for their permission for the former stewardess to contact her birth child.  They agreed as did the daughter. 

The husband’s family was now made aware that their family had just grown by another two members.  All were thrilled and lovingly embraced those new members.  They will all be celebrating Christmas together this year.

A thought came to mind as this was told to me.  It reminded me of yet another mother – mother Teresa: “We have not come into the world to be a number; we have been created for a purpose, for great things:  To love and be loved.”  For nothing characterizes Christmas and what should be our guiding force in life any better than these two mothers.