Mama Diaries

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Mother's Day Inspiration

Happy Mother's Day to all moms everywhere!

I was going to tell you about my Mother's Day - about the black eye I had to deal with first thing this morning, the spilled juice, the dirty laundry, etc. - but then I read this wonderful story in a book called Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark Hanson, Jennifer Hawthorne, and Marci Shimoff, and I thought I'd share it with you. The story is called "Who to Believe."

It's the story of Wilma Rudolph, a three-time Olympic gold medal winner in running events. She was the 20th of 22 children, and she was born prematurely. Her survival was doubtful. When she was four years old, she had double pneumonia and scarlet fever. It left her with a paralyzed left leg.

Wilma was very fortunate to have a mother who told her she could do whatever she wanted to do with her life. She told her that all she needed was faith, persistance, courage, and an indomitable spirit. So when the doctors said she wouldn't be able to walk again, Wilma decided that she would be the world's greatest woman runner.

That's what she did! She entered races and came in last every time. Then she came in second last. Finally she won. Then there was no stopping her! In 1960 she went to the Olympic Games in Rome and won three gold medals!

How's that for an inspirational story of overcoming obstacles and the influence of a wise mom!

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