A Mother's Day Tribute to My Parents

Thank you, brave and crazy refuge, mother, for showing me how to live strong for my family and teaching me to hang on with my teeth if I ever need to. You loved all six of us kids equally in every one of our circumstances. The freedom and grace of your unconditional love freed my spirit to explore the bounds of both its human darkness and heavenly righteousness with equal passion.

Thank you humble, fearless, and steadfast father for whatever it took of you to be so widely known as a man of your word. I have never once seen life break you. You are a real man with an altruistic, unselfish heart that showed me how living right is one of the best ways you can love your kids. Your silent sacrifices taught me to protect and put the needs of my family ahead of my own. It has been my heart's challenge to find a man I trust and respect as much as I do you.

Thank you both for the bottomless well of love that's quenched my thirst as I've galloped unbridled in a field of stars, even as the hooves of a sweet wobbly colt joined my single stallion's stride. Thank you for showing me how loving without measure can overcome a life without treasure.

Thank you for teaching me that faith in God and personal integrity are more important than the breath it takes to declare struggles and other people your enemies. It is some strange, imperfect mix of you both that makes me a happy mother today.

Love,
Your Little Lucky Charm (Estella)

Note: The audio for this post has been disabled

"Daughters"

I know a girl
She puts the color inside of my world
and she's just like a maze
Where all of the walls all continually change
And I've done all I can
To stand on the steps with my heart in my hand
Now I'm starting to see
Maybe it's got nothing to do with me

Fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters, too

Ooh, you see that skin
It's the same she's been standing in
Since the day she saw him walking away
Now she's left cleaning up the mess he made

So fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do
Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters, too

Boys you can break
You find out how much they can take
Boys will be strong and boys soldier on
But boys would be gone without warmth
from a woman's good, good heart

On behalf of every man, looking out for every girl
You are the god and the weight of her world
So fathers be good to your daughters
Daughters will love like you do

Girls become lovers who turn into mothers
So mothers be good to your daughters, too
So mothers be good to your daughters, too
So mothers be good to your daughters, too