A Mother’s Day wish

In January of this year my mother, Pearl Mims, passed away. I am still trying to comprehend the magnitude of the loss to my family. She was my strength, my guide, my friend and my mom.

As I reflect upon the impact she had on me, I also realized the impact she had on friends, neighbors and the community. I also realize she was not alone as she made a difference in the lives of others. Mothers all across the nation should be honored for the love, nurturing and guidance they provide us.

The newspaper headlines and news reports of violence seem to betray the positive influence our loving mothers have had on us. Not so — perhaps we have not been good students of their example and teachings.

Pearl Mims was a proud woman. It was an inner pride of the quality human being she endeavored to be every day. It had nothing to do with property she owned or the money in her bank account. She lived her life to please God. That’s a solution for today. If we spent more time improving ourselves, there would less time to criticize and attack imperfections in others.

Pearl Mims taught us that our name meant something special. In our names are all the generations that came before us, and that we owed those generations respect. Also, we were taught to respect everyone because their names and generations were special, just like us. That’s a solution for today. Mutual respect for one another will never result in hatred or injury to others.

Pearl Mims loved her family. However, her family love wasn’t limited to her family. She loved her extended family, the families of her friends, the families of our neighbors and any families she met. She had so much love and she shared it willingly. We couldn’t wait to imitate what we saw her enjoy so much. That’s a solution for today. If we all loved everyone like we’re all part of the same family, we would easily learn to work together, help one another, look out for each other and learn to love one another. Wouldn’t that be something to behold?

Pearl Mims and loving mothers everywhere — thank you for just three solutions to the ills that plague us. Solution 1 is self-respect and self-improvement. Solution 2 is mutual respect. Solution 3 is to love everyone like they’re family members. If we do this, every day would be a Happy Mother’s Day.

– Bro. Al Mims

This article originally published in the May 9, 2016 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.