Mom, I don’t even know where to start. Should I start with the random calls, just to tell me you love me and ask how my day is going? Or the nights that you stay up late just so you can hold me when I’m crying about that stupid boy that broke my heart or that rude girl that made fun of me in class today? You have been my hero since the day I was born. Aside from you carrying me in your womb for nine months, you are my absolute best friend.

I thank the Lord every single day for your precious heart and your kind words that you share with not only me, but also others around you. I thank the Lord for the sacrifices you make for me to make sure that I have the absolute best, even when you have nothing. I’m thankful for the days we spend together grabbing lunch or getting our nails done. I’m thankful for each and every “goodnight, I love you more” text message that you never forget to send me. I’m thankful for every fight we’ve gotten in, just because it’s only helped us to grow stronger. I’m thankful that regardless of how rebellious I was, you never gave into me. There’s no telling where I’d be if you would have just let go and let me do what I want. I’m thankful for the structure you provided me with throughout my teenage years and for not allowing me to run wild like I wanted to do. I may have disliked you then, but I want to thank you now.

I know I went through a stage where I didn’t want to hear a word you said. It was my way or the highway; you knew nothing (because I was a know-it-all teenager and I knew everything there was to know about the world). But now, I can’t even count how many times you were right. You were right about everything, from friends to boys to jobs and so on. I’m so thankful that you kept your faith in me until I grew out of that stage. Even though sometimes, to this day, I still hate to admit that you were right, I’m glad I have a mom that cares about me and always looks out for my best interest.

I just want to say thank you for being a Godly leader. Thank you for constantly reminding me that God has a plan for my life and that I’m blessed. Thank you for helping me realize that I have a purpose. I get down on myself pretty easily, and without you, who knows if I would have kept pushing to do better. To be better. To grow and to mature. To succeed in school and at work. Thank you for setting a good example for me to live by and thank you for showing me how to love. The unconditional love that you have for me is indescribable and I can feel it through every touch, every word, and every look.

I’m blessed to have a mom that made me her first priority. You always put yourself last. You will happily put something that you grabbed for yourself in the store back, just so I can get that one extra thing that I want.

Thank you for telling me that I’m talented and never giving up on me. Thank you for having faith in me, as far as school goes and moving up in my jobs and, well, everything for that matter. For encouraging me to always do my best.

Thank you for being that one person that always believes in me.

Thank you for being there, just when I need to talk, but not being afraid to tell me if I’m wrong.

Thank you for always being interested in what I have to say.

Thank you for being such a hard worker and showing me that you must work for what you want. Thank you for going out of your way to make sure I have someone to go to the doctor with me, just because I don’t want to sit in the waiting room alone.

Thank you for cheering me on and always sticking up for me.

Thank you for teaching me to grow and making me start doing things on my own.

Thank you for helping me become a productive part of society.

Thank you for pushing me to go the extra mile and push through the tough times.

Thank you for never letting me forget that no matter how bad of a day I had, I always get to come home to your open arms and loving heart.

As I’ve gotten older, I don’t know what’s happened to me, but I’ve gotten kind of emotional. I can be driving to work and I’ll think about how selfless and loving you are and how I surely don’t deserve a mom like you, and I start crying. Who knows what’s wrong with me.. But I do know that I wouldn’t trade you for the world.

As you can probably tell, I could go on forever. You are beautiful on the inside and out and I know I don’t thank you enough. I know that sometimes, I don’t show you how much you mean to me. I know that sometimes I take you for granted and I make you sad by the words I use while talking to you. I sit here in tears because I can’t express to you how much I love you. How thankful I am for you, and how lost I’d be without you. I can only hope and pray that one day, I’ll be able to be at least half the mom you are to me. Thank you for not only being my mom, but for being my best friend and my biggest fan. I love you more.