Dear God,

now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say that they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them.

Fortunately, my dear mother is still alive. My gratitude to her grows with each passing day. My mother hasn't changed, but I have. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an amazing person she is. How sad that I could not speak these words in her presence, but they flowed easily from my pen.

How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life? For her love, patience and hard work in raising her children? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a smug college student? For waiting for the day when her daughter realizes she really is a good mother?

How does a grown woman thank her mother for her constant kindness? For offering advice when asked and remaining silent when not needed? For not saying, "I told you so," when she could have said it dozens of times. For her self-love, thoughtfulness, patience and tolerance?

I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will be as good in the eyes of my children as my mother is in mine.

A daughter

Dear God,

now that I am no longer young, I have friends whose mothers have passed away. I have heard these sons and daughters say that they never fully appreciated their mothers until it was too late to tell them.

Fortunately, my dear mother is still alive. My gratitude to her grows with each passing day. My mother hasn't changed, but I have. As I grow older and wiser, I realize what an amazing person she is. How sad that I could not speak these words in her presence, but they flowed easily from my pen.

How does a daughter begin to thank her mother for life? For her love, patience and hard work in raising her children? For running after a toddler, for understanding a moody teenager, for tolerating a smug college student? For waiting for the day when her daughter realizes she really is a good mother?

How does a grown woman thank her mother for her constant kindness? For offering advice when asked and remaining silent when not needed? For not saying, "I told you so," when she could have said it dozens of times. For her self-love, thoughtfulness, patience and tolerance?

I don't know how, dear God, except to bless her as richly as she deserves and to help me live up to the example she has set. I pray that I will be as good in the eyes of my children as my mother is in mine.

A daughter