Have you called your Mama today?

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
This week I had the pleasure of spending a little time with Ruth Wiley.
Mrs. Wiley is an 84 year-old county resident who has spent much of the past year painting gourds and battling cancer. That sentence sounds odd together.
But they go hand-in-hand.
She began painting again last April after learning that she had cancer. She describes the painting as being therapeutic for her.
That, I believe, is a story in itself.
But what really makes this story worth sharing is Mrs. Wiley's relationship with those who care for her. Although someone who had received one of her gourds had already approached me about doing a story on Mrs. Wiley, it was a meeting with her daughter, Patti Kimbrough that really put the story in perspective.
Patti is like most all of us. She has been worried, scared and proud of her mother throughout her illness. She wrote a story outlining the family's past year with all the struggles and joys the have experienced. It is a true Mother's Day story.
Throughout this week as I planned this story, I always came back to my own family.
I cannot imagine seeing my mother go through an illness like this. Unfortunately, I know that many of our readers have dealt with pain of seeing a mother suffer and later die.
I had to watch my grandmother and one of the world's greatest aunts go through it.
As we celebrate Mother's Day weekend, I am encouraged that I still have my mom and I hope she knows how much I love her.
I also get to see each day how great a mother my wife is to our son, Ty.
You always here that there is 'just something about a mother's love.'
I believe that to be completely true.
There is an old commercial that features Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant walking across Bryant-Denny Stadium. In it, Bryant says "Have you called your Mama today? I sure wish I could call mine."
I hope that if any of you still can, please call your mother's today and tell them how much you appreciate them.