Get out your tissues for this one -
Elin - I think this year this will mean the most to you...
>The Journey Of A Mother
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>For those who are fortunate enough to still be blessed by having
>your Mom with you, this is beautiful...For those who aren't...
>it is even more beautiful. It takes my breath away!
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>The young mother set her foot on the path of life.
>"Is this the long way?" she asked.
>
>And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you
>will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end
>will be better than the beginning."
>
>But the young mother was happy, and she would not
>believe that anything could be better than these years.
>So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed
>them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a
>bike and reminded them to feed the dog, and do their
>homework and brush their teeth. The sun shone on
>them, and the young Mother cried,
>"Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."
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>Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path
>was sometimes dark, and the children shook with
>fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and
>covered them with her arms, and the children said,
>"Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near,
>and no harm can come."
>
>And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead,
>and the children climbed and grew weary, and the
>mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children,
>"A little patience and we are there." So the children climbed,
>and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms.
>And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.
>Year after year, she showed them compassion,
>understanding, hope, but most of all...unconditional love.
>And when they reached the top they said,
>"Mother, we would not have done it without you."
>
>The days went on, and the weeks and the months and
>the years, and the mother grew old and she became
>little and bent. But her children were tall and strong,
>and walked with courage. And the mother, when she
>lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said,
>"This is a better day than the last, for my children
>have learned so much and are now passing these
>traits on to their children."
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>And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her,
>and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers.
>One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could
>see a shining road and golden gates flung wide.
>And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey.
>And now I know the end is better than the beginning,
>for my children can walk with dignity and pride,
>with their heads held high, and so can their children
>after them. And the children said, "You will always walk
>with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
>And they stood and watched her as she went on alone,
>and the gates closed after her. And they said:
>"We cannot see her, but she is with us still.
>A Mother like ours is more than a memory.
>She is a living presence."
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>Your Mother is always with you.
>She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the
>street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember,
>flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's
>the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well,
>she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day.
>She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep,
>the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.
>Your Mother lives inside your laughter.
>
>And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows
>every emotion ...happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy,
>love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow...
>and all the while, hoping and praying you will only
>know the good feelings in life.
>
>She's the place you came from, your first home,
>and she's the map you follow with every step you take.
>She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy,
>but nothing on earth can separate you.
>Not time, not space...not even death!
