One of my favorite childhood memories involves me waking up early one morning, going to the kitchen, and announcing to my mother that I did not feel like going to school. As a first grader, I was unsure of how she would respond to such request but I was surprised when she merely replied with, “If you do not like to go to school, don’t go.”
My mom was an irony in such a way
that she was strict and meticulously well-mannered constantly giving us lessons on how to sit, how to stand, and how to properly behave in public. And yet, she gave us the freedom to be who we were. She supported me when all I ever wanted to do was bury my head in books and did not question when I chose a degree for college. My mom, along with my dad, allowed me to live my life the way that I saw fit. They trusted in the values and faith that they instilled in me when I was younger so when I was older, they let me go.
And while some people may have mistaken my mother as overly protective, looking back, she wasn’t. She was merely shielding me from unnecessary pain and protecting me as much as she could. My mother dedicated her life to protecting us and for that, I am grateful.
In fact, working in the mental health industry has made me appreciate my parents even more. As children, we sometimes forget that our parents are human beings who lived full lives before we came into the world and I am thankful for the way my mom survived and thrived through the many seasons of her life. My mom did the best that she could with what she had. She did the best that she could and I am who I am because of her bravery to move forward in life, even if she probably did not know how to do so.
My mom let us fly and live our dreams. She never shielded us from the realities of life and was always the first person to pick us up when life became challenging as it would for anyone. My mom’s faith has inspired my own, she always believed that God was in control and she had faith that no matter what the circumstance, He will show himself strong and faithful.
My mother gave life to me — such a simple yet incredibly powerful statement that we sometimes take for granted. Without my mother, I would not be here, I would not be writing this, and I would have not been given the education to pursue my dreams. I wouldn’t have the heart to give, the heart to love, or the capacity to empathize. I wouldn’t have the strength to go after my dreams or the courage to love life even if it has failed me before.
That is the gift of a mother — from the moment we wake on this earth, a love that doesn’t just give us life but it is a love that carries us through, whether we are near or far. It is a love that strengthens us and a love that is unlike no other.
Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere, the world would not be the same without you in it.
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