The Journey of a Mother
The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way? she asked.
And the guide said "Yes, but the way is hard. And you will be old
before you reach the end. But the end will be better than the beginning."
But the young mother was happy, and would not believe that anything could be
better than these years. She played with her children, she fed them, bathed
them, taught them how to tie their shoes, ride a bike, reminded them to feed
the dog, do their homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on them and
the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
Then the nights came, the storms and the path was sometimes dark, the
children shook with fear and cold, but mother drew them close, covered them
with her arms and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid because you
are near, and no harm can come."
Then came the morning and a hill ahead, but as the children climbed, they
grew weary, and so did the mother. But at all times she said to the children
"A little more patience and we are there." and as the children climbed,
they learned to weather the storms, with the gift of strength she'd given
them to face the world.
Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most
of all an unconditional love, and when they reached the top they said,
Mother, we would not have been able to do this without you."
As the days, weeks, months and years went on, the mother grew old, little
and bent, but her children stood tall, strong and walked with courage; and
as she lay down at night, she looked up at the stars and said, "This is a
better day than the last, for my children have now learned so much to pass
all these traits onto their children."
And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, gave her their
strength, and love just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a
hill, and beyond the hill, they saw a shining road and golden gates that
flung wide open. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey, now
I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with
dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children
after them. And the children said, "You will always walk with us Mother,
even when you have gone through the gates."
As they stood and watched her go on alone, the gates closed after her. And
they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours
is more than a memory. She is a living presence."
Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk
down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you
pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're
not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She
is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow,
she is Christmas morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's
crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion ...happiness,
sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy,
sorrow...and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good
feelings in life. She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's
the map you follow with every step you take.
She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing
on earth can separate you. Not time, not space...not even death!
HAPPY BELATED MOTHER'S DAY
