The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. You will be old before you reach the end of it, however, the end will be better than the beginning"
But, the young mother was happy, and she wouldn't believe that anything could be better than these years. So 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, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, the mother drew them close and covered them with her arms, the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come to us."
The morning came, and there was a hill ahead, the children climbed and grew weary, the mother also grew weary. But at all times she said to the children, "A little patience and we will be there."
So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. With this, she gave them strength to face the world.
Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, and hope, but, most of all she gave them unconditional love. When they reached the top they said, "Mother, we wouldn't have done it without you."
The days went on, the weeks, the months and the years, the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But, her children were tall and strong; and walked with courage.
The mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."
When the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.
One day they came to a hill, beyond the hill they could see a shining road with golden gates flung wide. And the mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey and now I know the end is truly better than the beginning. My children and grandchildren can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high."
The children said, " You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
They stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. 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 is the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street.
She is the smell of the cooking of certain foods you remember.
She is the flowers you pick.
She is the scent of that special perfume she wore.
She is the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well.
She is your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.
She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep.
She is the colors of a rainbow.
She is Christmas morning.
Your Mother lives inside your laughter, and she is crystallized in every tear drop.
A mother has known 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, she's the map you follow with every step you take.
She is the one you run to when you are scared, and her arms are always open to hold you and console you.
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!
