About Mom's you may need a tissue
Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2005 1:19 pm
this came in my e-mail today. I lost my mother last year and my beloved MIL last month. I cried quite a bit when I read this. Thought I might share with you all. I believe I'll have to use the underlined part at the end in a layout if I can see through my tears.For those who are lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this isbeautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful. The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this thelong way?" she asked. And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard, and you will be oldbefore you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than thebeginning." But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe thatanything could be better than these years. So she played with herchildren, she fed them and bathed them, taught them how to tie their shoesand ride a bike, and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homeworkand 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 sometimesdark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew themclose and covered them with her arms and the children said, "Mother, weare not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come." And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the childrenclimbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times shesaid to the children, a little patience and we are there." So the children climbed and as they climbed they learned to weather thestorms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world. Yearafter year she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most ofall......unconditional love. And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not havedone it without you." The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, andthe mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children weretall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she laydown at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day thanthe last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing thesetraits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave hertheir strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to ahill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gatesflung wide. And Mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now Iknow the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk withdignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their childrenafter them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, evenwhen you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gatesclosed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. AMother is more than a memory. She is a living presence. Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winters day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows 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, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space....... not even death!