A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love

People often mistake a mother's rules for control, her worry for nagging, and her advice for criticism. What they don't always see is the love behind it all.

As mothers, we spend years protecting our children from scraped knees, broken hearts, bad decisions, and sometimes even themselves. We guide, teach, warn, and encourage. 

Not because we want to control their lives, but because we want them to have better lives than we did.

There are times when our children don't understand our choices. They may think we're being too strict, too involved, or too cautious. They may roll their eyes at our advice or become frustrated when we won't simply tell them what they want to hear. 

But every decision we make comes from a place of love.

A mother's love isn't measured by how often she says yes. Sometimes it's measured by the difficult no's.

It's staying awake at night worrying about them when they don't even know you're awake. It's carrying burdens for them that they'll never see. It's making sacrifices without expecting recognition. It's wanting the very best for them, even when they believe they know better.

The truth is, a mother's love doesn't disappear when she's angry.

There will be arguments. There will be disappointments. There will be moments when tempers flare and words are spoken out of frustration. 

But even in those moments, the love remains. 

A mother can be upset with her child and still love them with every piece of her heart. She can be disappointed in their choices and still stand ready to help them when they fall.

That love doesn't come with conditions.

It doesn't say, "I'll love you if you listen to me," or "I'll love you if you make me proud." It says, "I love you because you're mine."

Whether you're succeeding or struggling.

Whether we're laughing or arguing.

Whether you're near or far.

My love remains.

One day, you may understand why I worried so much. You may understand why I asked questions, gave advice, and tried so hard to guide you. One day, you may realize that every lecture, every warning, every difficult conversation was rooted in love.

Until then, know this:

Everything I've ever wanted for you was happiness, safety, and a future brighter than my own.

You may not always understand my ways, but they have always come from the same place—

A mother's love.

Until We Speak Again, 

A Loving Soul

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Leave a comment below with your thoughts. Do you agree or disagree? Let's talk!

A Mother's Pain

A Mother's Pain

People often think that once your child becomes an adult, the worrying stops.

It doesn't.  If anything, it just changes.

When they're little, you worry about scraped knees, fevers, and whether they'll make friends at school.

When they're grown, you worry about things you can no longer protect them from.

A couple nights ago, my son called me after an incident at work. There had been an altercation with another employee. 

No punches were thrown. No physical fight broke out. 

My son did what I wish more people would do in heated situations—he walked away.  He went outside to calm down.

But the situation didn't end there.

The employee called her boyfriend, and according to what was reported, he came looking for my son and threatened to shoot him.  

Thankfully, another employee prevented my son from going back inside. 

The police were called, and no one was hurt.

For that, I am grateful.

But the fear didn't leave when the danger did.  That's the part people don't talk about.

The event ends.  The worry stays.

You replay the situation over and over in your head.  You imagine what could have happened.  You think about how differently the story could have ended.

And then your mind starts asking questions you don't want to answer.

What if he had gone back inside?

What if the other employee hadn't stopped him?

What if the police had arrived too late?

As parents, our minds are experts at creating "what ifs."  And sometimes those "what ifs" hurt more than reality itself.

What makes this situation even harder is knowing the employee still works there.

Maybe nothing will happen.  I sincerely hope nothing does. 

But fear doesn't operate on facts alone.  Fear operates on possibilities.

And when someone threatens your child, even your grown child, those possibilities become impossible to ignore.

People say that children grow up.  They move out.  They build their own lives.  They become independent.

All of that is true.

But no matter how old they get, they never stop being your baby.  You never stop wanting to protect them.  You never stop worrying about them.  You never stop feeling their pain.

That's the burden and the blessing of being a mother.  

A piece of your heart walks around outside your body every day.  And when that piece of your heart is threatened, scared, or hurt, you feel it too.

Maybe that's what motherhood really is.

Loving someone so deeply that their safety becomes tied to your peace of mind.  And sometimes, carrying fears that they may never fully understand.

I don't know what happens next.  I don't know if this situation is truly over.  I only know that tonight I'll probably check my phone a few extra times.  I'll probably worry more than I should.  And I'll definitely thank the heavens that my son came home safely.

Because sometimes a mother's greatest relief is simply hearing the words:

"I'm home."

Until We Speak Again, 

A Worried Soul

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Leave a comment below and tell me what you think. What are some things you worry about, for your child? Has something happened before? 

The Little Things Matter

The Little Things Matter

When people think about love, they often think about the big things.

The vacations. The gifts. The anniversaries. The grand romantic gestures we see in movies.

But in my experience, relationships aren't built on the big things. 

They're built on the little things. The everyday things. The things that seem so small that we often don't think twice about them.

Things like:

"How was your day?"

"How are you feeling today?"

"I'm going to the store. Do you need anything?"

"Drive safe."

"Text me when you get there."

"Did you eat today?"

Those may seem like simple questions. But they're not really questions. 

They're expressions of care. They're little reminders that someone is thinking about you. That someone notices you. That someone values your well-being.

Sometimes love looks less like roses and candlelight and more like bringing your partner a blanket because you noticed they're cold. 

Sometimes it's making them a sandwich because you know they get busy and forget to eat. 

Sometimes it's filling up their gas tank.

Sometimes it's sending a quick text just to let them know they're on your mind.

The little things say:

"I see you."

"I care about you."

"You matter to me."

And the beautiful thing is that they don't cost much. Most of them are free. They only require effort and intention.

Unfortunately, the opposite is true, too.

When the little things disappear, people notice. Not immediately. But over time.

The "How was your day?" becomes silence.

The good morning texts stop.

The check-ins become less frequent.

The thoughtfulness fades.

And eventually one partner starts feeling invisible. Not because they're unloved.

But because they no longer feel loved.

There's a difference.

Love is a feeling.

Feeling loved is an experience.

And often, it's the little things that create that experience. 

At the end of the day, I don't think most people remember every gift they've ever received. 

But they remember who showed up.

Who listened. Who checked on them. Who made them feel important. Who made them feel loved.

The little things matter.

Until We Speak Again,

An Observant Soul

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Leave a comment below. What are some of the little things that make you feel loved or appreciated?