Happy Mother's Day. I've been thinking about how to say thank you, and I keep coming back to the feeling of being safe with you. Wherever you are, there's a kind of warmth that settles around the people close to you, like a porch light left on.
I am so proud of you for going back to school and earning your nursing degree. It took courage to begin again, and it took strength to keep going. You've always been strong, but watching you reach that goal showed me what strength really looks like. It's steady and patient, and it doesn't give up.
You are one of the most generous people I know. You give without keeping score, and you make people feel looked after. You taught me to always bring something when I visit someone, whether it's flowers, a dish, or just a small gift. I understand now that it was never really about the thing. It was about showing up with an open heart and letting people know they matter. I carry that lesson with me every time I knock on a door.
I love picturing you in your garden, hands in the soil, patiently helping things grow. It makes sense to me, because it's what you've always done for the people around you. I also love the thought of you curled up with a good mystery novel, trying to guess the ending before the last page. And I treasure our Sunday phone calls. They are the quiet thread that keeps us close.
And your laugh. You laugh at your own jokes, and honestly, that's one of my favorite things about you. Your joy is so honest that it's impossible not to join in.
Thank you for everything you've given me and everything you still give. You are my home, my comfort, and my example. Whatever comes, I will always love you, without condition and without end.