“Mama, thank you for who I am. Thank you for all the things I’m not. Forgive me for the words unsaid, for the times I forgot. Mama, remember all my life. You showed me love, you sacrificed. Think of those young and early days, how I’ve changed along the way.

And I know you believed, and I know you had dreams, and I’m sorry it took all this time to see that I am where I am because of your truth. And I miss, I miss you. Mama, forgive me for the times you cried. Forgive me for not making right; all of the storms I may have caused, and I’ve been wrong. Dry your eyes.

Mama, I hope this makes you smile. I hope you’re happy with my life, at peace with every choice I’ve made, how I’ve changed along the way. And I know you believed in all of my dreams, and I owe it all to you, Mama.” ~ II Divo

This Mother’s Day as we gather to celebrate and honor motherhood, some gather memories of “Mama” and their growing up years with the wonderful bits of wisdom and patience we swore only a saint could have. Drawing from my personal experience, I can’t say it was very encouraging or happy. I am grateful I was given one though, and to go through the various rites of passage as all of us do.

This day is set aside to recognize those brave task masters whom, more often than less, are underappreciated, underpaid, and quite often overwhelmed with their responsibility of rearing and raising, molding and shaping future adults hopefully to survive and surpass them

Housework beckons, children demand, deadlines loom, promises kept, appointments met, selfish thoughts are replaced with the joy of servant-hood. The job of motherhood takes every ounce of strength and your last remaining nerve. It is the highest calling. Without mothers where would any of us be?  Mother’s Day can be bittersweet as some mothers have passed on, but live on in our hearts such as mine.

I reconciled with my birthmother in a hospital. I was able to hold her and learn as much as I could in the few minutes I had with her. She recognized me and a tear fell from her eye as I whispered in her ear that, “I know who you are and I forgive you and love you. You will always be my Mom. You gave me the best gift in the world, the gift of life.” She died shortly after our reunion. Years of being Mama to little ones are short-lived. Cherish each God given day.

Thank God for Mothers. Know that your work never goes unnoticed and is always appreciated.

Happy Mother's Day!