"A black rose for one, a bouquet for a few and a single orchid for mi..."
I am one that believes humans go through stages of growth based on what they are prepared to carry. In an ideal world, youth find toothpicks heavy. Dealing with all measures of teenage angst. Learning to cope with friendships and new feelings that arise. As they get older and the toothpicks weight becomes light, they are now ready to carry a wooden beam. Leaving home, fending for themselves and experimenting with more mature subjects as they begin to find out who they are. Soon enough, that wooden beam becomes light and they are now ready to carry heavy logs. Heavy logs that may include marriage or more importantly...a child. For to carry the weight of another life requires strong shoulders. Shoulders whose strength is settled into the idea they must remain that strong for the duration of the lives that they have been blessed to carry. This is a mother...
I have been exceedingly blessed to have two mothers. One that bore me and one that helped raise me through my adolescent years. Both very different but both strong and beautiful in their own individual ways. From one I saw the breadth and length she would go to make sure we were not only taken care of, but that we were treated to the very best and from the other, I saw the daily care in the cooked meal, the attention given to my day and how little things could make all the difference in the world. From the single mother that works and does all she can for her children to the stay at home mom that does the same. The sacrifice to themselves was always evident and this is the ultimate metric for what I call "mother".
I give honor and praise to my ex-wife Millie for being the perfect helpmate in raising my sons and although we are not together today, she remains my helpmate in this regard until the day God chooses to take us home. Relationships may evolve and so must the way we parent but a parent is a parent for life and we do not take this lightly. She is one of the greatest women I have ever known without exaggeration and she is deserving of all that I can give her in this life even now. All men of duty, honor and love will attest that a good woman should never be taken for granted or taken advantage of. She has my love, respect, honor and care for as long as is required of me.
I also give honor to all the women I've known that have sacrificed their lives for the sake of raising their children. You may think this praise redundant but in a world where too many today are more concerned with "me time" that they have shifted their focus off their children, I believe those that have stayed focused and found proper balance should receive honorable mention. I believe in "me time" as it is a necessity at times for sanity but never at the expense of the children and/or marriage. I have come to know and love single mothers that have impressed me with the care of their children. My love only growing for them when I found myself second to their children. They know who they are. So take heed little boys. Where you see "baggage"...I see greatness.
Now lest I should put aside my eloquent praise too early, there is one more group I must mention. A smaller group I've been more than blessed to come to know. To the women that have taken children unto themselves that they have not borne but have birthed in grace through love itself, I give you the highest honor. Revealing that the heart of a mother is beyond flesh and blood and that love can cross that blood barrier creating a family with no difference from any other is a miracle to me. If I knew nothing else about you, that to me is more than enough to solidify your worth. From those of you that adopt, to those that have chosen to raise children in difficult circumstances...I hold you in the highest esteem. You know who you are...
Happy Mother's Day to you all...enjoy your day and be blessed...
~Moses Apollo
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