Thank You, Mom

Dear, Mom:

Mom, we talk nearly daily despite the time difference, and you are always there to pick up the phone. I don’t think I have actually ever told you what you mean to me, so I would like to say thank you. And since I can’t be with you in person, I hope my words can be enough for now.

Thank you for being there to help dust off my knees when I fell down.

Thank you, for always working so hard to make sure our family was taken care of. Sometimes taking on multiple jobs and day and night shifts so we never went hungry or without.

Thank you for coming to my games and concerts even if that meant you had to go back to work afterward.

Thank you for showing me how to love with a whole heart.

Thank you for letting me help in the kitchen even if I made a huge mess.

Thank you for teaching me how to take care of myself.

Thank you for showing me how to be strong and never give up.

Thank you for modeling selflessness and having true compassion for everyone.

Thank you for showing me how to talk to strangers. I see now how making people in the grocery store line smile and laugh is a rare gift. I wish I never asked you to stop out of embarrassment.

Thank you for never giving up on me, even when I rebelled, got mad, and said hurtful things.

Thank you for loving me enough to let me go and find myself, even if that meant marrying a soldier who would take me to the other side of the world.

Thank you for coming to help when your grandchildren were born and I was all alone.

Thank you for holding me and reminding me everything would be OK.

Thank you for modeling the mom I wanted to be.

Thank you, for encouraging me, believing in me, and supporting me through everything, even if you did not always agree.

Thank you for giving me all the unconditional love any person can give to another.

Thank you for being a constant in my life.

Mom, this list does not even scratch the surface of the reasons I love and value you. You have helped shape me into the person I am today and will continue to help me grow into the person I still want to become. The mother I am today is all because of you. I bring the children into the kitchen and cook, we aren’t afraid of getting messy, and I hope someday they can look back and think as lovingly of me as I do of you.

Thank you for absolutely everything.

I love you so very much, Mom.

Happy Mother’s Day.