The constant love of a mother

For the last few weeks, I have been able to visit my Mom in Florence, Alabama. She is 25 years older than me. We both celebrate our birthday on December 21. She is 86 years old. My mom has raised seven kids and still says she is ‘raising’ us. She will tell you that raising seven isn’t easy.

Most mothers are there for their children. This past week, a co-worker’s son had open heart surgery. She made plans to be there throughout the week. She will help by carrying his son back and forth to school, helping with school homework, cooking, cleaning, and, most of all, giving her love and support to her son and his family.

I often reflect on all the years I’ve spent with my mother, and in those moments, one thing was constant – love. Whether we were picking tulips out of the backyard, having coffee midafternoon, or arguing over the most insignificant things, love prevailed. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized a new appreciation for my mother and all the sacrifices she made on my behalf. When I became a mother myself, I realized it more so. It was as if all my senses and maternal instincts were heightened the day my daughter was born. I wanted only the best for my little girl, and I finally understood why mothers make the sacrifices they do.

Being a mother is the most rewarding and challenging role I’ve ever taken on. If you are a mother, you understand. From the moment I first held my daughter in my arms, I knew my life had changed forever. Immediately after my daughter was born, she was crying so loud until they put her in my arms. As I cradled her, I felt a deep sense of connection and immense responsibility that I had never quite felt before. She was crying so much, and my first instinct was to say her name. When I did, she opened her big brown eyes, stopped crying, and started looking for me. It felt as if everything else had faded away at that moment. I think that moment filled me with a sense of purpose that has sustained me through every challenge and triumph of motherhood.

The history of Mother’s Day in the United States began in 1908 thanks to the efforts of Anna Jarvis, a social activist who wanted to honor her own mother’s legacy. She established the white carnation as an emblem representing all mothers on Mother’s Day. It wasn’t 1914 that President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation officially recognizing the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day will be celebrated on May 12 this year, so we must start planning how to honor our mothers.

Mother’s Day is celebrated in many different ways, from brunches and flower deliveries to boxes of chocolates and handmade cards. So, let’s take time to express our gratitude and appreciation for all the mothers in our lives for all that they do, not just on Mother’s Day but every day.