THE GREATEST MOTHER ( gratitude beginning)

I AM GRATEFUL THAT I HAD THE GREATEST MOTHER WHO EVER LIVED. I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN CERTAINLY SAY THOSE EXACT WORDS, SO I MUST ELABORATE.
OH, DON'T GET ME WRONG: I DIDN'T ALWAYS SEE THIS SO CLEARLY, AND, UNFORTUNATELY, I SURE WASN'T THE MOST REDEEMABLE CHILD OF ALL TIME EITHER. HOWEVER, IN THE END, I KNOW ONE THING FOR CERTAIN, WITH ALL MY HEART, AND THAT IS THAT MY MOTHER LOVED ME, AND I LOVED HER. SHE DID IN FACT FORGIVE ME OF ALL MY SOMETIMES UNFORGIVABLE SHORTCOMINGS, BECAUSE SHE TOLD ME SO AT THE END. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE GIFT THAT WAS FOR ME. IT IS ONLY NOW WITH A VERY HUMBLE HEART THAT I CAN TRULY APPRECIATE ALL THAT SHE WAS AND ALL THAT SHE DID FOR ME. MY MOM WAS QUITE THE CUTE LITTLE CHARACTER WITH A MOUNTAIN OF CLASS. I WAS THE YOUNGEST CHILD OF FIVE, AND SO VERY SPOILED: JUST ASK MY SIBLINGS. MY MOTHER WAS 36 WHEN SHE HAD ME. OH, HOW THIS BOTHERED ME WHILE I WAS GROWING UP: IT SEEMED LIKE I HAD THE OLDEST MOTHER ALIVE. SHE DIDN'T UNDERSTAND ANYTHING. IT IS TRUE, WE WERE OF VERY DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, AND YET NOW THOSE OLD THOUGHTS OF HERS SEEM TO MAKE SO MUCH SENSE. MY MOTHER WAS WISE! SHE COULD SEE THE FUTURE! LIKE WHEN I WAS GETTING READY TO MARRY A WONDERFUL MAN WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE DISABLED AND IN A WHEELCHAIR. WE LOVED EACH OTHER VERY MUCH, AND I BELIEVE STILL DO, EVEN THOUGH WE ARE NOW DIVORCED. WELL MY MOTHER ALSO HAD A GREAT LOVE FOR HIM AND A LOT OF RESPECT. HOWEVER, SHE ALSO KNEW ME. SO WHEN SHE SAID TO ME " ARE YOU SURE? WHAT ABOUT THE DAY YOU WANT SOMEONE TO DANCE WITH, OR CARRY OUT THE TRASH?" BELIEVE ME THAT SHE ABSOLUTELY MEANT NO DISRESPECT TO MY SOON- TO -BE HUSBAND. SHE JUST WANTED ME TO SEE THE BIG PICTURE. UNFORTUNATELY 10 YEARS LATER THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED. MY MOTHER WAS AN AMAZING WOMAN WITH TALENTS BEYOND HER KNOWLEDGE. SHE WAS AN EXCELLENT COUNSELOR AND ADVISOR TO SO MANY PEOPLE. I REMEMBER NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, RELATIVES, ALWAYS SEEKING HER ADVICE AND OPINIONS ON THINGS, AND THEY ALWAYS SEEMED TO FEEL BETTER AFTER TALKING TO HER OVER A CUP OF COFFEE.MY MOTHER WAS THE PERFECT HOSTESS AND LOVED TO INVITE PEOPLE OVER TO HER HOME FOR BARBECUES, DINNERS, ETC. JUST TO VISIT. SHE WAS THE PERFECT PARTY- GIVER. SHE HAD AN AMAZING LOVE OF LIFE. SHE USED TO TELL ME, "JODY, YOU JUST LOVE TO HAVE A PARTY." WELL, SHE WAS RIGHT. I LEARNED IT ALL FROM HER, THE BEST. SHE TAUGHT ME THAT IT WAS O.K. TO ENJOY COOKING, LAUGHING, AND ENJOYING PEOPLE'S COMPANY FOR ANY REASON AT ALL. MY LOVE OF BIRTHDAYS, HAVING THEM AND GIVING THEM, ALL STEMS FROM THE JOY THAT SHE BROUGHT TO EACH ONE OF MINE AS A LITTLE GIRL.MY BIRTHDAYS WERE MAGICAL! MY BIRTHDAY ALWAYS FELL TWO DAYS AFTER VALENTINE'S DAY AND MY MOM ALWAYS MADE IT A WEEK LONG CELEBRATION. MY SPECIAL DAY WOULD ARRIVE AND I WOULD AWAKEN TO HAVE MY BEDROOM DOOR COVERED IN BALLOONS AND STREAMERS, AND A RECORD PLAYING CALLED "BETTY BUNNY'S BIRTHDAY DAY". SHE PLAYED THAT RECORD ALL DAY, I LOVED IT. I CAN STILL REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS. IF I HAD SCHOOL THAT DAY MY MOM ALWAYS MADE A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ME TO TAKE TO CLASS TO SHARE WITH MY SCHOOLMATES. THEN THERE WAS ALWAYS THE WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY PARTY, PIN THE TAIL ON THE DONKEY, ALL THE GAMES, ICE CREAM AND CAKE: NO BOUNCE HOUSE HERE. I BELIEVE THAT MY BIRTHDAYS WERE MORE MAGICAL THAN ANY THAT HAPPEN TODAY, BECAUSE I HAD A MOM THAT MADE THEM SO.THE GREATEST LESSON THAT I LEARNED FROM MY MOTHER IS THE WAY IN WHICH SHE LOVED. THERE IS NO DOUBT IN ANY OF OUR MINDS THAT OUR MOTHER LOVED US. SHE LOVED AND ADORED HER GRANDCHILDREN. SO AS I TRAVEL NOW ON THIS JOURNEY I AM REASSURED BY THE SIMPLE FACT THAT I WAS TOUCHED BY THE GREATEST MOTHER AND LOVE THAT EVER WAS.