I don’t buy Mother’s Day cards anymore. It’s been over a decade since I made the Sunday trek to my mom’s house, with a nicely-wrapped gift and hand-written card in tow—all the while my heart aching for the inevitable hug and disarming smile awaiting me.
If you ever met my mom you knew instantly of her kindness and sincerity. She was authentic and genuine. If she asked how you were, it was because you mattered deeply to her. She noticed people and made them feel seen. She knew how to love and care for those around her. She had a way of looking in your eyes and seeing straight to your soul.
I miss her terribly. After all these years, a litany of things still bring her to mind and pull her close. Chocolate. Milk Glass. Red glass. Her caramel corn recipe. Her roll-top desk. Wuthering Heights. The Wizard of Oz. Easter basket hunts. Christmas stockings. The list is endless. Even the simple gold band she once wore on her finger that I now wear on mine. And sometimes at night, when I’m truly blessed, she’ll play a quiet role in one of my dreams—talking to me so naturally as if she’s been with me every moment of the last several years.
Moms never stop being a part of our lives, from the day we’re born ’til the day we leave this earth. Our moms are imprinted on our hearts like fingerprints on our hands. We carry their teachings, their disciplines, their wisdom, their voice and sometimes even their idiosyncrasies. Mostly we carry their love. And if your mom loved you well, then that love helps carry you through every challenge and hardship you face. A mother’s love never ends.
“Our moms are imprinted on our hearts like fingerprints on our hands.”
This Mother’s Day, if you can…give your mom a hug she won’t soon forget. Wrap your arms around her and feel her love surrounding you like no other. Linger a bit longer than usual. Take a mental photograph. This is a love for the ages. And from now on, you can pull this moment from the pocket of your memory any time you want.
If you’re a mom yourself, know that your job is of the highest calling. You may not feel it when your teenager rolls their eyes or your toddler spills milk for the eighteenth time, but you’re leaving a legacy that is both lasting and far-reaching. Your efforts are never wasted. Every ounce of love you pour into them fills their tank with the love they need to thrive. So love your kids hard. And always remember…You are amazing.
Happy Mother’s Day.