a Thank You note

my brother, mom, and me

Dear Mom,

Today is May 8, 2011 and I, your firstborn, will be 28.5 years old in 13 days.  This little fact is rather unremarkable for most but quite important to me.  

This morning I walked to the dining hall where the kids attend children's church and I found them coloring intently.  When I looked at their worksheets I saw a picture of a bouquet of flowers and some text under the picture that said "Happy Mother's Day!"  The sight of this made my heart drop, for none of these kids have a mother to present their colorful works of art.  When I asked some of the kids to whom they would give their pictures some replied, "Mama Rejoice" (the old house-mother in charge of eight little girls), others replied, "Charity the cook," some said, "Grandma Sue" (who is visiting from America.)  But no real, true, biological mothers and certainly no mama who would scoop them up after children's church and act overjoyed at receiving a rather ordinary coloring sheet.

In a world where women die from childbirth far too often I don't take for granted a single day that I have had you as a mother, and I especially don't take for granted the gift of having an exceptional mother.  So on this day, the 28th Mother's Day that I've celebrated in your honor, I thank you for the innumerable ways you've loved me.

Thank you for...
- Giving me a brother, and never playing favorites 
- Every hot breakfast, packed lunch, and delicious home cooked dinner you prepared every day during my first 18 years of life
- Inspiring in me a love of reading and indulging me with books
- Summers filled with museum outings, homemade crafts, afternoons at the pool, horse camp, and bike rides instead of t.v. and video games
- Every night you spent helping me with school projects and homework, especially math
- Enforcing nightly family dinners, some of my best development surely happened around the dinner table
- Giving me the idea that I could do anything I wanted if I only worked hard enough
- Teaching the value of hard work and being a model of diligence and perseverance every day
- Encouraging all of my interests, from soccer to art to piano and everything in between, and giving me the gift of lessons and solid teaching
- Constant affection, nurture, and care
- Being a woman of honor and living with integrity, honesty, and unwavering moral character
- Actively giving to, and working with, charities; for loving the least of these
- Teaching me the importance of writing thank you notes
- Your unconditional love, your immense generosity, your continual support, encouragement and advice
- Your stubborn love and prayers that lead me to faith in Jesus and showed me a love like no other

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I love you and am more grateful for you than words could ever express.

My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother; 

    Bind them continually on your heart;

         Tie them around your neck. 

    When you walk about, they will guide you;

         When you sleep, they will watch over you;

         And when you awake, they will talk to you

Proverbs 6:20-22