Mother's Day is the one day a year where we take the time to celebrate the unsung heroes of our nation: moms. In my family, that means going to a special place for brunch and giving gifts to my mom. The cards we give her are sweet and I always talk about how special my mom is to me, but I wanted to take the time to write down 5 things that I should always thank her for:
1. Being my biggest fan
As cliche as this sounds, it is true! My mom has always supported my dreams. Whether it was signing me up for dance lessons when I wanted to be a ballerina or volunteering at an animal rescue with me when I wanted to be a vet, even though she is not the biggest dog lover out there, my mom was there to help me chase my dreams. When I felt like a failure, she reminded me of everything I had accomplished and how many opportunities I had waiting for me in the future.
2. Loving me when I did not deserve it
Let's face it; kids can be hard to manage sometimes. I am willing to admit that I was not always the easiest person to love and I went through a phase of wanting to make my parents' lives as difficult as I possibly could. Even through all the teenage angst and dark eyeliner, my mom gave me her love. She hugged me when I was crying, she disciplined me when I was getting out of hand, and she reminded me each day that I could never make her stop loving me.
3. Accepting all of my quirks
My family is based on a foundation of love and humor, emphasis on the humor part. We all have our little quirks, mine being my endless supply of sarcasm and puns, and despite how off-putting they may seem my mom always accepted me as I was. She encourages my laughter and helps me to not take life so seriously. My mom has never tried to make me be anything but myself and I love her for that. She also set the example by allowing her quirks to show and being at peace with herself.
4. For showing me what it means to be strong
My mom is one of the strongest people I know. She has overcome things that I cannot even imagine, and she came out on the other side with a confidence that only those who have fought a hard battle possess. She taught me that you have to grin and bear it because life is going to hit you with some hard obstacles, and the only thing you can control is how you handle them; she is truly a fighter.
5. For being an example of what it means to be a daughter of Christ
My mother has one of the strongest and most open relationships with God that I know. She taught me how to walk in His footsteps and how to show my faith in every aspect of my life. Her moral compass has helped me to develop my own, and when I waver in my path I look at her for inspiration to continue. She has raised me in God's love and continues to walk with me in our Christian journey.
Thank you, mom for being the best role model I could ever have; I love you and I hope that every day I can prove how thankful I am to have you in my life! Happy Mother's Day!
