Dear Mom,
Thank you for being the best mother in the world. I know, everyone says that they have the best mother in the world. But no, really. Thank you for not throwing me out of the window as an infant. This means a lot considering I was up every two hours the first two YEARS of my life. Seriously, thank you. I know you had to sometimes escape to the car to get any sleep.
And, thank you for sleeping like this:
Thank you for throwing me the BEST sleepover birthday parties and for letting my friends and me wear your clothes, shoes and HORRID makeup! I’ll never forget the super deluxe crayon set I got that year with my favorite color “magenta” included. Thank you for fixing my hair every morning…even through middle school. (This was because I was self-conscience about my ears and wanted them covered at all times). Thank you for telling Dad that I got my period right after I told you not to tell anyone!
Thank you for making all of my dreams and desires (within reason) come true. You supported me even when it was tough. Like when I decided to move to Peru as soon as I graduated from high school. Then asking me when I got back if “hola” means “goodbye”. Thank you for preparing me for the “real world”. For teaching me responsibility in the work place. For teaching me about dating. Because you had a MILLION boyfriends in the past. ;) Maybe that’s why I rarely dated!
Thank you for supporting me on the biggest day of my life. My wedding. You made my DREAM wedding come to pass. You may have not cared much for the man I chose to marry at the time, but what mom wouldn’t have a hard time with their first daughter getting hitched?! (Btw, I love the movie Hitch.) I do have to say that I smoothed the path for my sister when her time came! She still hasn’t thanked me for that.
But, the moment I will never forget is when, almost two years ago, you looked at me with one hand behind my head, tears in your eyes and said, “I am so proud of you, sweetie.” You had just gotten through holding up one of my legs as I pushed out my first-born son. After everything YOU have done for ME, YOU were proud of ME? It was a moment I will never forget. You see, for the first time I understood what it was like to be a mother. It was the start of learning how much you love me. Learning how much you have SACRIFICED for ME. And now I understand what love is.
I don’t think we have the capability to understand how much our parents really love us until we have children of our own and feel that same love toward them.
Being a parent is not easy. Because love isn’t easy. Love is a sacrifice. It is commitment. It forgives. Love never gives up. Love gets hurt. Over and over again. Love believes the best. Love desires the best for our lives. (I’m not that wise, I stole a lot of these from the Bible.)
Mom, I wouldn’t be able to afford to give you the kind of gift you deserve. Your role is irreplaceable and it always will be.
If I have any gift to give you, it is this:
Mom, you are beautiful. You’re gorgeous. Even with the newly forming wrinkles and reading glasses that are always on top of your head. You are strong. You are caring. You put everyone else’s needs before your own. Although, sometimes you need to care for yourself. I know the world has tried to bring you down, but you still stand. You’re important. You’re invaluable. You cannot be replaced in this family.
I love you. And I still need you.
Your Daughter.
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Please add a memory, trait or personal story about your mother in the comments section below. I’d love to hear about the special woman in your life!
Angela, what a beautiful touching tribute to your mom! It brought me to tears. I see so much of your mom in you & Rachael. All three of you are beautiful, inspiring, loving incredible women of God! You are such a loving mommy and much like your mom, you both simply amaze me! God bless and Happy Mother’s Day!¡! Xoxo
Angela, what a beautiful touching tribute to your mom! It brought me to tears. I see so much of your mom in you & Rachael. All three of you are beautiful, inspiring, loving incredible women of God! You are such a loving mommy and much like your mom, you both simply amaze me! God bless and Happy Mother’s Day!¡! Xoxo
Angela,
This is one of the most moving letters I’ve ever read. Thank you for sharing your heart with us. Your mom is a beautiful person inside and out.
You give me hope for the future. As a mom of teen girls, I have many anxious moments. As you said, it’s vital to look to God’s Word for guidance and to be refueled.
It’s wonderful to know that moms and dads will be rewarded down the road someday when their daughters have their own children.
It’s all about love, thanks for reminding me today that it’ll all be worth it. I told a friend the other day that maybe I should’ve been a nun. ;)
Love and hugs
Yes, it is very inspiring. There is a wonderful yet different relationship for all of us parents with our kids down the line!
About MY Mom :) Traits (good or bad) are ususally passed down from generation to generation. I’m so very thankful that my Mom had MANY wonderful “good” traits to pass down to help me be a better mom. I’m so grateful she didn’t allow raising five kids keep her from wanting the very best for each one of us. I remember her saying that we should never compare what she does for one and expect it for the other because it’s not about everything being equal all the time, and that our needs were different at different times. I’m thankful for the example she gave me like having dinner on the table every evening without fail and showed me how important it was to gather as a family. She kept our home always open to our friends most anytime of the day or week. She also made our friends her friends too! Not that she hung out with us…thank goodness! But, she got to know them and cared about their lives. With three prissy girls in the house, and very little money, she would remind us that it didn’t cost anything to have clean clothes, comb your hair, and look nice when you walked out the door! She is an excellent seamstress and not only made alot of our little girl clothes, but custom-made ALL THREE wedding dressing in nine (9), yes 9 months! We made her break out in hives that year!!! Since having children of my own, I understand how a mom hurts when her child hurts. When I first had to wear the body brace in Jan. of 7th grade (was handicappede for five years), she slept with me for a week to help ease the pain. However, to my demise, she allowed me to walk home from school an average of 40 times a year!!! That should explains some things! And yes, just like I was with Angela, she had a hard time when I got married and even took me out to dinner one last time to give me a chance to change my mind! I look at how accepting she has been over the years to all of her extended family now, and want to be the best mother-in-law as she has been to her “sons”. She is very talented, and although I didn’t carry the torch for sewing like Robin did, I’m forever grateul for her example of hard work and the ethics she instilled in me to do a good job, be loyal to my boss, and to excel from wherever I began. I’m so grateful to have her with me today and to know that we can still gather as family and she’ll always be there! Sometimes we take the ones closest to us for granted, and on this Mother’s Day I want to say “thank you” and “I love you” for being there for me today and still wanting to “ease the pain” when life brings the unexpected. You are loved and appreciated for just being who you are! ~Your “favorite” daughter, Cheryl (Just kidding!!!)
Pamela- Thank you so much for your kind words! I truly have been blessed.
Susan- IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT! I haven’t had to raise teenagers yet, but I was one not that long ago. We are good at challenging our parents and making them go through such hard times. God is faithful and your example to your girls will be honored. Keep up the great job you are doing. There are times when children don’t show appreciation. But know that they will ALWAYS need you. In the times they seem to want you the furthest away is the time you need to get as close as possible. That’s the one thing that broke my heart as a high school teacher is seeing parents kind of “let go” of their kids during high school. I couldn’t believe it. You have no idea how many times a kid would tell me that they just wanted to be closer to their mom or dad. Even the one who “fought” with them all the time. I hope this encourages you, Susan! Much love and HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!!!
Mom- Thank you for sharing that about Grandma Stiers. It’s so nice to hear the stories and be told of how things were with you guys. You have a great legacy! Grandma has always cared so much for her family through the good and the bad. We love you, Billie Rae. :)
Angela,
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
Thank you for your encouragement. I’m having a wonderful Mothers Day today. My girls gave me a beautiful flower arrangement they put together themselves with roses, carnations and mums.
They have hearts of gold. They know I love them “up to the moon and back again” as I tell them often.
It’s all about love. The love we’ve received from Jesus, that allows us to love and to meet any challenge.
My husband and I are very blessed.
xoxo
What a wonderful gift. You are blessed! God has a way of reflecting himself in our families. Turns our hearts to know the Father and the Son more deeply.