A Mother's Love

I was an only child brought up in a fatherless home. My mother was a kind, hard-working person but not overly demonstrative. I was always cared for, reprimanded when I was “bad”, but I never remember being spanked. Raised long before the Dr. Spock era, I can remember throwing some temper tantrums when I didn’t get my way, but my mom always took time to explain why I couldn’t have something or do the something I wanted to do. Anger was very rarely shown in our home. I don’t mean to say my mom didn’t feel things deeply. Many times I noticed sad eyes for things she couldn’t do for me and happy ones over things she could. I just felt and returned the love without the outward trappings of it.

This upbringing carried over into my own life. I, too, am not a very demonstrative person but that doesn’t mean I don’t love deeply. I believe love is more than hugs and kisses and “I love you”. I see many people outwardly showing their love but not following through with things that make love concrete. I don't believe a person can “fall” in and out of love. I believe love means you will always be there for the person you love, no matter what. It means you will stand by them no matter what happens, and it means you count on them to do the same for you. If love is real, it is automatic. When your love is called upon, it is not questioned. Your response has no alternative if love is true. Married couples who remain together realize this.

I attribute my particular belief in love to my mother. She dedicated almost half her life to teaching me what I believe today. I still love her but the opportunity for showing that love is past. My mother died at the age of forty-nine from lung cancer. I believe we need to love the people we care for like today might be our only chance to show it. Just like in writing, love is better shown than told.