Mothers

"My mother kissed me softly goodnight after I told her about my day.

She wiped my tears, calmed my fears, and whispered, "You can do it!" along the way.

Her job wasn't an easy one; it was a thankless job, at best.

But her support, service, and love for me make her rise above the rest."

~ Stacy Coles

Where would we be without our mothers? They are the selfless people in our lives who sacrifice everything to make sure those around them are cared for, loved, and safe. They teach us to be kind and loyal. They love us unconditionally. They are there to comfort and heal. Mothers tend to be the ones we might fight with the most and want around the least when we are young and seeking our independence. They are also the ones we lean on the most and go to for words of advice when we are older and needing direction.

Mothers have an intuition about what their child needs, even when those needs are not obvious to the child. I lived away from home during my first year of college. Although money was tight, my parents did everything they could to give me such an opportunity. My mother encouraged me with notes in the mail (no text-messaging, yet), and a constant whispering of "You can do it!" over the phone. She told me to give it my all and make every minute count. But, I think that underneath the encouraging words, she was really preparing me for something more. She was preparing me with a survival guide, of sorts, for the rest of my adult life. She gently pushed me out the door and, without realizing it, I was learning that I could survive without my mother. I was learning to be self-reliant, to trust my instincts, to believe in myself. She taught me to look for something good in everyone and everything.

My dear mother passed away just three months before I graduated from college. It was a sad time, and I cried and hurt just like anyone would after losing a mother. There are still those days when all I want is to feel her arms wrapped around me and hear her whispering, "You can do it!" in my ear. But, when those days come, I try my best to live the way she would want me to live. I mentally pull out my survival guide she so wisely equipped me with and, sometimes through lonely tears, try to find the good in whatever I'm involved with at the time. But, even during the most heart-wrenching days, I know I'm not alone.

Not only was I blessed with a kind and loving mother, I was ~ and still am ~ surrounded by many inspiring women who are good examples of what a good mother should be. I know we all have such treasured people in our lives. These women are neighbors, teachers, sisters, friends, mothers-in-law, step-mothers, aunts, and grandmothers. I keep in touch with these cherished women and constantly learn from them.

We can also learn so much from those women in our lives who have not had children. I know many great women who, although may not be mothers, exemplify the charity and love that all mothers possess. They are kind and nurturing and are always willing to give of their time when the need arises. These are the women who are often forgotten, but who also need to know how much they are cherished and appreciated.

If you find yourself having a spare moment today (every busy mom reading this is laughing right now!), write a little note or send a little text to your mother or another great woman in your life. Tell her how much you love and appreciate her. Let her know that her support, service, and love mean the world to you. Not only will it make you feel good, you will put a smile on someone else's face. And if you've made someone feel good today ~ you've accomplished a lot!

Mothers