So I didn't get you any flowers. Or chocolate. Or jewelry. Or anything actually. I bought you a card a week ago and it is still in my purse waiting for me to write in it, buy stamps and mail it. Hopefully you will get it by the end of May...But what I do have for you is this:
Dear Mama,
After 33 years together, you know me better than sometimes I even know myself. When I overextend myself and am running ragged, you know by the sigh in my voice and gently remind me to go to sleep a little early tonight. When I have been beat up by the world and am beginning to doubt myself, you gently remind me of all the things I do right and where my strengths lie. When I am ready to go into battle, you are right there next to me - whether it is in spirit, prayer and actually fighting on my behalf! How do you say thank you for that type of devotion?
You are my original home - your body and your love cradled me for 10+ months. You carried me within your womb for over 42 weeks. You went through days of prodromal labor with me, only for me to finally roar out of you. You fed me with your own body, while caring for a toddler and husband and house. You kissed my boo-boos, hugged me tight, never complained in the middle of the night when I woke up just because. You held me when I was sick and sang to me.
You taught me to love others as I loved myself. You taught me to turn the other cheek and to pick my battles. You prayed for me, and with me, and spoke blessings upon me.
At every stage of my life, you put my needs before your own. You have been mother, chef, chauffeur, maid, friend, counselor, teacher, doctor, nurse, guide, coach, and so much more. Every decision that you made from the time I was conceived has been filtered through what was best for me (not you!).
It must have been heart wrenchingly painful when each of those stages came to an end and you had to let me go a little bit. And then a little bit more. But you allowed me space to find myself and be myself and let me go.
I believe that being a mother is the most difficult thing anyone can ever do. But I am not sure that joy is truly felt until the moment that a mother is born. Every moment is sweeter, every blessing is doubled, every opportunity is magical.
So, today and every day, I celebrate you, Mama. You have shaped me and helped mold me into the woman and mother that I am. When I look into the eyes of my sweet baby boy, I feel closer to you than I ever have before. I know the secret...it's love. It knows no beginning or end. It is a gift. Thank you for this gift. I hope that when you look into my eyes, you see it too.
Love, Deva
