It Is Often Said a Mother's Love Is the Purest& Most Selfless Form of Love

This May, we celebrate the women who have touched our lives in ways that have helped us to become the people we are today. Each of us has experienced a very unique relationship with our mothers. Still, at the essence of motherhood is the embodiment of love, devotion, unconditional support, and wisdom.

This month, I bring to you a collection of tributes from our community of women, sharing lessons they've learned from their mothers that have become their "greatest gifts." As I listened to each of these women share their personal thoughts and stories (often very poignant and vulnerable), I continue to discover an undeniable thread that runs through each of our lives. 

Our resilience, wisdom, strength and grace are born from our mothers and are spawned through life's greatest challenges. Each of our mothers sustained their own personal hardships, lived through great challenges, and endured loss, sometimes abuse, often without us knowing. And still, they worked at keeping a home and the work of daily living, all while raising us. A mother's love is unlike any other yet often goes unnoticed. It is often said that it is the purest and most selfless form of love. A love that can not be explained.

From Pam Bartlett:
"Mom turned 92 and is still the picture of beauty inside and out. She has always shown me the importance of self-care and that 'I matter.' She worked hard her entire life and made sure we had the best education. She put us through college, which ultimately led me to my career in education. Mom put her best foot forward in everything she did – at work, within her family and community. Because it mattered to her, she always did it with a heart of grace. 'Become aware, and be an advocate for what you believe in, so people don't walk all over you.' She lived through the most challenging of circumstances, and through it, not only did she persevere, but she thrived!!! It was the way she lived that I learned that I, too, can get through life's greatest challenges."

​From Stephanie Foster:
"The greatest lesson I learned from my mother – this is easy to answer – is that she taught me how to love!!! Ellen is my ideal of motherhood. She is my role model and my best friend. I'm so blessed to call her my mom. She's 88 years old and has lived alone since the passing of my father in 2017. She is the epitome of strength, kindness and social flare. Mom taught me the incredible power of unconditional love – she and Dad were married for 56 years. She loved my dad always, even when he was a brat, when he was losing his memory and when he drove her crazy! She had staying power and found so many beautiful ways to express her love, often without saying a word. She taught me how to love myself – self-worth.

She was always very proud of me, even when I wasn't. She was my rock when my life took an unexpected turn and when I started to doubt my own ability to love. She taught me how to let go. She taught me how to love my children, to give them firm boundaries and to understand the difference between what they wanted and what they needed. She continues to teach me how to love them as adults, to not ask too many questions, but to just be present. She also taught me how to make loving decisions. I recall one of the biggest decisions (at the time) of my life was which wedding dress I wanted. I asked her, begged her, hounded her – which one?

And yet, she never told me. She just took me patiently to a million dress shops until we found 'the one'– the same exact one we found at the very first place! She demonstrated patience, deep-rooted love, grounded in pride and caring and boundless energy. But she never gave me the answer; she just waited and supported me until I could make my own decisions. Most of all, my mother's love has given me the ability to build my own home, my very own safe haven. Her love showed me how to turn a house into a home." 

From my cousin, Roseanne Carroll:
"Mother was a lady through and through and always kept her sense of humor. I always learned from her example. She was very creative, sewed beautifully and made hats from leather. Her stitching was remarkable. She was a great dancer and an actress in college. Way smart! She had a photographic memory and could spell every word in the dictionary. Her creativity has inspired my appreciation for the arts. I remember her sitting at the piano every night. Her playing inspired me to take up the piano a few years ago."

From my niece, Monet Rivera:
"I'm reflecting on the profound influence my mother has had not only on my life but also on the lives of everyone in our family. She is a beacon of positivity, selflessness, and love. Growing up as the only daughter in our family, I experienced a uniquely close bond with her – a bond that has only strengthened over time. From my earliest memories, my mother was always by my side, participating actively in my world. She was my best friend – whether we were shopping together or she was driving me to my horseback riding lessons, she was always there for me. I remember the tears in her eyes when she dropped me off at college. It was the first big step I took alone, though I was ready – she and Dad did a great job of raising me.

Her transition into grandmotherhood has showcased her unwavering love and dedication to our family. She attends their sporting events, helps tutor them in their schoolwork, watches them when my brothers and I are on vacation, sends them sweet cards in the mail, and spoils them with her love and affection. What truly sets my mother apart is her example of what it means to be a Godly woman.  Her influence molds us still, teaching us the virtues of kindness, patience and faithfulness through her everyday actions. As we celebrate Mother's Day, I am reminded that while my mother is extraordinary, she also exemplifies the universal impact of all devoted mothers.

They are the architects of home and the heartbeat of family life. Their endless reserves of love and sacrifice create the memories and moral foundations that shape future generations. Today, I honor my mother, a beautiful woman whose love and strength are the cornerstone of our family. Her legacy, built on selfless love and unwavering support, will undoubtedly echo through generations. I am eternally grateful to call her my mother, and I hope to follow in her footsteps." 

On this Mother's Day, I'd like to invite you to think about what you've inherited from your mother, what you learned from her, and how she inspired you to become the person you are today. Let's celebrate and be grateful for a love that is unending!