To my mother

Prompt #13: Write a thank you letter to your Mother, or the most important woman in your life.

I love my mom for a variety of reasons. She’s always been there for me, she loves me, and gives more of herself than pretty much anyone in my entire life. She’s caring and funny, silly and comforting…but the biggest reason that I love my mom is because she has been the only example in my life of purely selfless & unconditional love. I’ve seen her give everything she has for my brother and I on a pretty constant basis. When we were little, it probably went unnoticed because she never made us feel bad for asking things of her. She just made it happen, even if it was physically impossible and then went about her day without condemning or shaming us.

As I continue to grow up and see just how self-sacrificing she is, I’m amazed. In all honesty, I grew up thinking that’s how people treated each other and didn’t think much of it. When the harsh reality that that is not true slapped me in the face, my eyes were opened to see how sacrificial her love was/still is for us.  I know growing up we didn’t have very much money, but what little we had, she would use on our needs and desires and instead of her own. We still have to beg her to use the gifts/money/gift cards we buy her on herself and not on us (it’s OUR gift to YOU mom!).

Also, the most amazing thing about unconditional love is that it cannot be manufactured or falsely created. To me, it’s the most genuine expression of love that exists. Typically, I’ve only heard of this kind of love coming from God. I rarely hear about unconditional love in other relationships because we’re all humans and fail one another constantly. Now, my mom isn’t perfect and there are definitely things that we have done to one another that have caused harm/hurt feelings between us…but she continues to display a real-life human example of unconditional love. No matter how much I hurt her or say something wrong, she loves me. I’ve never ONCE questioned her love for me (in my entire life!). And those who know me, know that I’m constantly questioning how other’s feel about me and doubting that anyone really cares about me. But not her.

I’m so lucky to have YOU as my mom.

Thank you for teaching me how to treat others with respect and dignity, how to love unconditionally, and how to be a strong woman in the face of life’s trials and tribulations. I wouldn’t be half the woman I am without your guidance, patience, and strength.  

I will love you forever and always.