Nobody taught me that better than my mom.
My mom spent her adult life raising five not so easy kids. She stuck with me even when I was rude and disrespectful to her. She cared for me through potty training and drivers training (both of which leave her emotionally scarred to this day). She always welcomed me, my friends, and anyone in need into our house, and she made them feel that they were at home.
She never received financial compensation for her work, and she rarely received the kinds of accolades that she deserved. I'm willing to guess that she receives more compliments on her food from one night of catering than I would give her in a year, but she faithfully cooked for me and my siblings througout our whole life (she even made my lunch until I started leaving for school at the crack of dawn).
I can hardly express how thankful I am for my mom. She was the person that taught me that being interdependent isn't being weak. She taught me to trust in God through hard times. She taught me how to be generous and kind even when someone cannot reciprocate.
My mom is funny and intelligent and hard working and talented in so many ways. She thinks deeply about God and politics and people and how to solve problems, and she gives advice that is laced with wisdom and practicallity. I'm so thankful that she didn't see it as a waste to focus her attention on caring for us kids (and her parents) for decades of her adult life.
Now that I have kids of my own, I understand more fully how excellent of a woman my mother really is. I'm so thankful for her, and I aspire to be like her someday.
I love you, Mom! Happy Mother's Day!