Loving, tender, and kind; she loves all of her children equally. Her love is eternal and one cannot begin to measure an eternity. She is benevolent and nurturing; she breathes life into the world and will do everything in her power to sustain that life. She has touched many souls and continues to tend to those in need. She has taught me to be chivalrous and to keep myself morally straight. She has shaped me into the young man I am today, literally and figuratively. She is unselfish, extraordinary, and pure, but most of all, she is my mother.
The first act of love I must thank her for is my birth. While it may seem peculiar to say thank you, I must give praise to anyone who is willing to endure that kind of pain. In the words of my father’s favorite crude analogy, “like a bowling ball through a garden hose,” I can hardly imagine the pain of giving birth. For many years I have wondered what drives a person to endure that much trauma; the answer — Love.
It takes a special person to go through the struggles a mother does. Talk about unselfish. She carried me inside her for three quarters of a year, sharing her body with me, sharing her food with me, and sharing her energy. The only thing I did was make her look fat and cause her to pee a lot. How can a person go through an epoch of agony that crescendos into the worst pain of her life? — Love. – And my mother did it with a smile on her face.
She is the greatest teacher I have ever known. As I have matured, she has been the wind in my sails, the driving force behind me. Whether it was teaching me to tie my shoes, use the potty, or apply for college, she was behind me all the way with unfaltering encouragement. At an early age she taught me important values. She taught me honesty—never to lie, cheat, or steal. However tempting it may be, I can always hear her voice cautioning me to make the right decision. She taught me how to pray — something that I do every night and throughout the day. She taught me to accept others — difficult at times, but I give everyone an equal opportunity just as she would do. The most important value she has taught me is to do my best. No matter what it is — “If you love something, pursue it with all your heart.”
She is pure. She does not smoke, curse, nor drink alcohol. She takes care of all people with a soft heart, passionate attention, and a friendly smile. She is colorblind, indiscriminant, judicious, and wise. She would never hesitate nor think twice about reaching out to someone in need. No matter how old, what color, how big, how small, what time of day, how little energy she has, or how undeserving a soul may be, she will not falter. She knows only mercy — she knows only love.
She is reliable. She is the name a child calls whenever he or she is in need. She will sacrifice sleep in order to comfort her sons after a scary movie or a bad day at school. She is the resident expert on girlfriends and our family’s emotions. She is undoubtedly the hardest worker and the locomotive of our lives. She is also the law and does not hesitate to set us straight when we fail to cooperate. There have been many wooden spoons broken over my backside for various reasons. How could one who is so gentle also be so strong-willed? — Love.
My mother has been my guardian and my source of life. She is strong, beautiful, courageous, kind, and pure, but most of all, she is mine. She would do anything for me, just as I would for her. I have been her shopping buddy, her pumpkin, her son, and she has been my idol. How can one put the needs of others before her own no matter the cost? — Love.
Mom, you have taught me many things along the way, and I owe nearly all of my success to you. You have been my shoulder to cry on, the tender voice to comfort me, and the gentle hand on my back when I am sick. Although I won’t see you as often as either of us would like while I am at college, I will take part of you with me, leaving a part of me behind. Whenever you miss me, I encourage you to read this essay and think of me. Think of all the time we have spent together and the great memories we have made along the way. I ask that you not lament over my absence, but look forward to the time when you can see me again. You may not think I have been aware of all the things you do for me and for us, but this is how I’ve wanted it, admiring you from afar. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the guidance you have shown me, and I ask that you trust me in the next chapter in my life. This is not the end of our time together, but a new beginning. As I move on and begin to grow up it will be my job to protect you, just as you have protected me. You have not only been my teacher and my mother, but one of my dearest friends. If you find yourself thinking about me, know that I am most likely thinking about you. For so long you have admired my writing and meant so much to me, so I wanted to make my final essay for you. How can a young man stay up all night writing about a single person? — Love.
