A heart that can hear
every unspoken need,
Wisdom to know
when to quietly lead,
Hands that reach out,
always helping and sharing–
A mother is caring!

Eyes that reflect
every joy that you find,
Arms to encircle,
but never to bind,
A talent for making
the most out of living–
A mother is giving!

A voice that can soothe
or inspire or delight,
A smile that keeps shining
when things don't go right,
An angel God sends us
from Heaven above–
A mother is nothing
But caring, giving and love.
(Author Unknown)

This poem is a perfect description of what a mother entails. Wisdom, love, quiet leadership, caring, giving, delight, soothing…these are words that most of us can apply to our mothers, in one form or fashion. Each of our moms are different and unique in their own and special way, but most would agree that the world counts on those women who soothe the cuts for their children, mend the hearts of the teenagers, and counsel the adults their young ones grow up to become. Moms are the ones you call when you have a question about cooking or washing your clothes or a story that would seem insignificant in the eyes of most, but would be of the upmost importance in the eyes of dear mom. Mothers are those who care and love no matter what you do or say and who have inserted the phrase “unconditional love” into their vocabulary until the day they leave this world.

Tenneva Jordan once said, “A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” This statement, in my opinion, is the epitome of what a mother is and strives to become. Selfless is a common word for moms that I have heard my friends use from all across the country. My own mom has been entirely selfless her whole life, putting the needs of her family first. And as a soon-to-be first time mother, I hope to strive to be as selfless as my mom and as countless of other women that I have seen be with their own children.

I recently watched a movie called “Nobody Knows” about a mother who is just the opposite of the characteristics that I have been describing here. This was a story of a mother of four, who had all four children by various men and was still on the look-out for that perfect husband. Once this mother found him, she left her 12-year-old son to raise and take care of the remaining children. This story is not only heartbreaking, but unfathomable in my eyes. The heart of a mother, no matter how tired or frustrated they might get, always seems to be more so in the best interest of their loved ones. Seeing this movie made me realize that maybe not all mothers in the world have this selflessness encoded in them, the minute they see that beautiful baby face. And it made me very thankful for the mother that God gave me. If you have a woman in your life like this, I hope you thank God for giving you such a special gift.

Mother’s Day is the time to celebrate these women in your life. Whether it be with a kind word, love-filled note, a bouquet of flowers, or the gift she has been eyeing for months, show your mom this week just how much you cherish her. Let her know that the world, and more specifically, that you, could not be where you are today without your mom.