Dorothy Brush "Random Thoughts" Published May 7, 2003

Results of good parenting can be the best Mother's Day gift

One warm, early October evening 61 years ago, a young couple spoke their wedding vows in the small country church by the side of the road that had served the bride's family for generations. War clouds were hanging over the country. The couple had met on a blind date two years before and been engaged for one year when they decided they would wait no longer to become man and wife.

In the short span of two weeks everything was pulled together for the wedding. A friend played the piano and an aunt sang "Because." The great-great-uncle of the bride, a retired minister, performed the ceremony. No wedding invitations had been sent, but the close-knit community learned they were welcome by word of mouth, and on that evening, the church was filled with family, friends and neighbors.

The vows were spoken and when it was time for the rings to be exchanged, the Rev. Uncle D.G. explained at length the importance of the ring. I was the bride and I cannot recall all that he said, but I am sure he spoke of the ring being a circle, having no beginning or end. It signified eternity for which marriage was binding. His words must be stored somewhere deep in my memory, because that simple little gold circle has never left my finger since that night until two weeks ago.

It has been part of millions of dishwashings and clothes scrubbings. During child births and a few surgeries, I remained adamant that the ring would remain on my finger. The medical staff always gave in and brought tape to keep it in place. As I was being prepped for surgery this time I met a road block. No matter how many arguments I put forth it was clear this staff was not going to give in.

Then an act of tender mercy took place. The head nurse proposed a compromise. My husband was still with me and she laid the tip of his finger against mine and carefully slipped the ring from my finger onto his. Because of the difference in the size of our fingers, it would not go far on his finger, but it was taped in place. There it remained until I awoke and was ready to have my husband place the wedding band back on my finger.

Several years after the ring was first slipped on my finger, I joined that great sisterhood of women called mothers. In 1945, son No. 1 arrived, followed by son No. 2 in '47 and son No. 3 in '48. Our family circle was completed when a daughter was born in 1951. Meeting the challenges, frustrations, joys and surprises of motherhood filled my days for many years.

Now those hectic days are remembered with laughter and nostalgia by both parent and child. It is good mothers will be honored this Sunday, but there is no Mother's Day gift that can compare with the pleasure and satisfaction of watching children grow into responsible adult human beings.

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Dorothy Copus Brush is a Fairfield Glade resident and Crossville Chronicle staffwriter whose column is published each Wednesday.