Aurora Magazine 2019

30 Years

Nelleke Knarr

30 Years ago, I gave my mother a journal. Today, she gave it back to me. Please fill it with your memories, I had written in the front. Little did I know, she would fill it with mine. A lot happens in 30 years: Babies and marriages, jobs and cross-country moves; divorce and deaths, disillusionments and disease. But, also, faithfulness and forgiveness, 2nd chances and 2nd generations. At 30 years, my mother gave birth to me, a former novice turned mom to six. She created a home on love and many prayers, with her very own Captain Von Trapp. When I was ready to fly from that nest, she brought me back to the Motherhouse she’d left, nearly 30 years younger in life, at my age. Providence watched over us both. This weekend I return there, where I graduated 30 years ago. And I wonder, how many mothers and daughters Will be thinking these same thoughts?

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