Happy Birthday, Mom!

If I could give you any gift, it would be to turn back time and be a better daughter–to give you more occasions to smile, to be more helpful and more grateful.  Unfortunately, time travel is not my forte, so I hope that my determination to be as faithful a mother to my children as you are to yours will suffice.

The topic of motherhood seems to be on my mind a lot these days, particularly as the birth of our baby draws near.  Memories of a rewarding career accompanied by mind-expanding projects, big paychecks, and lots of pats on the back are still fresh in my mind as I go about my present-day tasks of scrubbing toilets, wiping bums, folding mountains of never-ending laundry, and wondering how in the world I’m going to manage it all with a newborn added to the mix.  And then there’s the physical discomfort associated with the final weeks of pregnancy.  At times, particularly at the end of the day, I truly wonder how in the world I’m going to find the spiritual, physical and emotional strength to get out of bed in the morning and do it all again.  And then my thoughts turn to my mom.  She did it, and so must I.

I always knew that I loved my mom.  I’m sure that every child does.  But there were times during my teenage years that I was sassy and downright cruel to her.  On more than one occasion, my dad would sternly and appropriately remind me, “Your Mother put her foot in the grave to give you life!”  Oh, how I regret the disrespect I showed and pain I must have caused, because now that I am a mom, I have a deep understanding of exactly the types of sacrifices she made for me.

Thank you, Mom, for your example of selflessness, patience and love.  I hope that you have a wonderful day!

“The noblest calling in the world is motherhood.  True motherhood is the most beautiful of all arts, the greatest of all professions.  She who can paint a masterpiece, or who can write a book that will influence millions, deserves the plaudits and admiration of mankind; but she who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters whose immortal souls will exert an influence throughout the ages long after paintings shall have faded, and books and statues shall have decayed or been destroyed, deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God.”  ~David O. McKay