Caroline Quiner Ingalls was the beloved mother of five children during her lifetime, but through the writings of her daughter Laura Ingalls Wilder, she has become dearly loved as “Ma” to thousands of children through the decades.
Let’s honor Ma this Mother’s Day weekend by sharing a cherished memory of her, or of her influence on your life. Perhaps it was a lesson taught, a kindness shown, or an example modeled. Maybe a moment she made you smile, or a character trait you admire in her.
I’ll go first.
I often think of the verse that Ma penned in Laura’s autograph album in Little Town on the Prairie:
If wisdom’s ways you wisely seek,
Five things observe with care,
To whom you speak,
Of whom you speak,
And how and when and where.
And it was more than pretty words — it seems evident from the tribute her daughter paid her in her characterization that Caroline Ingalls lived these words.
Unfortunately, the reason I often reflect on this saying is because I haven’t followed its advice… but I figure if I just keep reminding myself of this ever-so-wise truth, eventually it will sink in, right?
Your turn. Please share your memory of Ma in the comments below.