On this day…

/ moragnoffke

On this day I was born. In some ways there’s nothing very special about being born and having a birth day. We all have ONE. It comes around once a year. It kind of just happens whether we like it or not.

I think the most special is the ONE that gave birth to us, who carried us, endured the hardships of bearing the growing weight for nine months and giving birth. They are the ones who are brave enough to see it through to the bitter end: bringing us into this world through pain, watching us grow and develop, biting back the anguish of unwise choices or unsuspecting complications.

My mother bore the weight of seeing me face breast cancer. It’s not what one signs up for as a mother. Shortly after I had my double mastectomy my mother developed lupus, an autoimmune condition. They suspected that it was a stress reaction to watching my misfortune.

On the 2nd of November, last year, I wrote a blog about my grandmother, Dolly (Magdalena). Her mother had six children. Dolly had three children, the first was still born. Imagine those mothers who carry their child with great expectations only to have their joy and hopes dashed and their love extinguished. I can’t imagine it, it is beyond my experience. My mother had one child, me. Most of you know that. So all her “eggs were in one basket” and she had high hopes.

I mentioned, in that blog about Dolly, that Dolly wrote a letter to my great aunts about meeting me for the first time. I said I would tell you what she wrote. Unfortunately I have misslaid the letter in the big move from South Africa to Scotland. I am sure I have it but I will retell you what I remember from the letter.

My great aunts were enthusiastic travelers, both unmarried at the time, they went to places like America, Australia and Egypt. And so this is partly why she was writing, to let them know that I had come early (still an observation people have of me to this day). The salient part was that, as she said “I was so excited to meet her and when I saw her I was surprised that she has red hair, rosy cheeks and blue eyes with a lovely smile and I prayed a blessing on her that she would grow up to be a spiritual woman, and a woman who walks with dignity. May she make an impact on the her community wherever she goes, her name is Morag. “

I appreciate that she had vision and hopes for me and any subsequent grandchildren, I was the only one she met as she died two weeks later. But I am sure she would have smiled upon each one of us, grandchildren. She had hopes and dreams because as a grandmother, she wanted the very best for her grandchildren. I never saw the letter until two years ago but I think that she would look on at my cousins and I with pride.

So on this day I live with joy, gratitude and satisfaction. I am happy to I reep the blessings of abundance of all she would want for me.

With gratitude I live this day and each and every day given me until my end.

I wish anyone else who celebrates a birthday in this month much peace and gratitude for your life. May hope spring in your heart on this day and for as long as you exist.

Take care and have a great weekend

-Morag Noffke

41 thoughts on “On this day…”

  4. Happy birthday Morag, and thanks for sharing your thoughts on mothers and grandmothers. It was very touching to read what your mother wrote when you were born. I think her words of blessing over you have come true! And, like you, I am aware of life being a very precious gift, and consciously live out my days with gratitude.

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  16. My daughter was born on January 4. Isn’t it amazing that these dates sprinkled through the year; birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, become little markers of purpose dotting the landscape of time.

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  17. Once again, a happy belated birthday! And you write such a beautiful ode to your mother and aunts – these are the people who helped shape us who we are today. “Joy, gratitude and satisfaction” – beautiful words and I’m definitely going to make it part of my vocabulary this year, thank you Morag 😍.

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  18. Happy belated birthday Morag! Your beautiful writing made me think about my mother and my life. 🙂 Wishing you strong health, lots of interesting adventures, amazing people around you and enjoy every moment in your life. 🙋💗🎂

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