What I learned from my mom about perseverance

Mother’s Day Mayhem 2024 giveaway. Enter for your chance to win.

My mom wasn’t perfect, but she taught me many things, one of which is to persevere in spite of what may seem overwhelming odds.

I don’t remember her specifically saying to never give up. What I do remember is her example of never giving up - of continuing to learn new things despite chronic pain, of advocating for my younger sister’s special needs, getting a University degree when I was in my teens, and then pushing (I mean strongly encouraging) me to apply for Brigham Young University and a scholarship when I believed I didn’t stand a chance of being accepted, let alone be awarded a scholarship.

My mom was very shy when she was growing up. When Lim joined our family in 1978, my mom had to learn to be more outgoing, more outspoken in order to make sure that Lim’s special needs were taken care of.

I miss my mom. I miss making her laugh. I miss working on projects with her.

My mom laughing. Loud and genuine.

Thanks to her perseverance throughout her life, I’m surrounded by my mother. Throughout the years she gifted me various items she made: decoupage decorations, quilts, tole-painted items, and jewelry.

And I see in my siblings and myself the grit of determination to keep going despite what life throws at us.

Thanks, Mom.

While some look at talent as being inborn, watching my mother learn new things, I’ve seen how she developed her various talents through time and effort.

I once watched her rip out a sweater she was knitting because of a mistake she noticed. At least 3 times she ripped it out! She came to find out the mistake wasn’t hers, but was in the pattern she was using.

I can only imagine how frustrated she felt. But she didn’t give up on knitting because of her mistake or someone else’s.

When I was in my early teens, I remember my mother sitting on the living room couch surrounded by textbooks and notes. She’d decided to return to school and get a bachelor’s degree.

Her example of intense study and learning as an adult, showed me that it’s never too late to learn. And studying was a worthwhile use of time.

She graduated with a degree in Psychology with a special emphasis in teaching those with learning disabilities. She went on to teach children and youth with learning disabilities - helping them not only to succeed in school, but to also realize their self-worth.

I feel bad about it now, but at one point, my mom was asked to play the organ in our church congregation. At that time, she was the only one in the congregation with any kind of experience with playing the piano. She’d had a few lessons in her youth.

Anytime she made a mistake, me and my siblings would giggle. And she made a LOT of mistakes in the beginning.

Undeterred by her kids’ irreverence, she took piano lessons as an adult and continued to practice on the organ to improve her skills.

Through her perseverance, she eventually became a piano teacher. I don’t even know how many students she taught through the years, but many of her students became very proficient in piano and went on to help with music in their congregations.

One of her students played the music at my mother’s funeral.

My mom was generous with sharing her talents. Sharing brought her and others joy.

I’ve included a couple of items (two quilted stocking Christmas tree decorations) that my mom made in the Mother’s Day Mayhem giveaway.

Maybe you’ll be the winner of the Mother’s Day Mayhem giveaway. If so, you’ll also be the recipient of my mother’s talents and generosity.

I’ve become a life-long learner thanks to my mother’s example.

I won’t give up even if life doesn’t appear to be the way I expect or want it to.

Clearly, I don’t have an “inborn talent” for crochet, but I will keep trying. :)

Like my mother, I will keep learning, keep practicing, keep sharing, and keep laughing.

What have you learned from your mother?

Share in the comments below.