Unforgetable Mother

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is this the long way?” she asked. And the guide said, “Yes. The way is hard and you’ll be old before you reach the end of it, but the end will be better than the beginning.” The young mother was happy and she could not believe that anything would be better than these years. So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, taught them to tie their shoes and ride a bike, do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them, and the young mother cried, “Nothing will ever be lovelier than this.” Then the nights came with the storms, and the path was sometimes dark. The children shook with fear and cold, but the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, and the children said, “Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near and no harm can come.” The morning came, and there was a hill ahead. The children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary too. But at all times she said to her children, “A little patience and we’ll get there.” So the children climbed, and as they climbed, they learned to weather the storms. Through this, she gave them strength to face the world. Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding and hope, but most of all ...unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, “Mother, we could not have done it without you.” The days, the weeks, the months and the years passed. The mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. When the mother laid down at night, she looked up at the stars and said, “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children.” And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung open. And the mother said, “I have reached the end of my journey and now I know that the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their head held high, and so can their children after them.” Her children said, “You will always walk with us, mother, even when you have gone through the gates.” They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory, she is a living presence.” Your mother is always with you. She’s the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street. She’s the smell of certain foods that you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore. She’s the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well. She’s your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She’s the sound of the rain. Your mother lives inside your laughter, and she’s crystallized in every teardrop. A mother shows every emotion, happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She’s the place you came from, your first home and the map that you follow with every step you take. She’s your first love; your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space, not even death. My wife and I each buried our mother this past year and share the hurt of no earthly mother to hug and hold this Mother’s Day, but mom will always be with us in spirit and unconditional love.