We're All Mothers and Fathers

Have you ever yearned to be a part of something bigger than yourself? Have you wanted to be a caregiver, or simply show love to another human being? To loved and be loved is something we can find ourselves searching for our entire lives without realizing it has already happened.

I used to think that the love of a mother was something that I would only experience once I became one. It never occurred to me that I already had it on multiple levels and experienced it on multiple occasions.

Some people grew up with both parents, some did not. Some went through foster care, adoption, or had a different guardian altogether. Some of us were raised by others or even raised ourselves.

I learned it truly took a village, and while many of us were blessed to have biological parents, many of the life lessons we learned went well beyond what we were taught from them alone.

My mom taught me how to love and respect myself. While I admired that about her, it didn't stop there. I was able to extend what I learned, all that warmth, to other people. Some occasions stood out more than others.

For many years, I faced battles with mental illness. Being in and out of hospitals, I searched for the right treatment. However, getting well and staying well were very challenging for me.

Don't even get me started on the stigma and judgements behind it either! People were quick to assume that when you faced a mental battle that you were crazy or something was wrong with you. The truth of the matter was that it was an illness, just like a physical one, that needed treatment.

Throughout this war within myself, my mother was very patient with me. She kept up with the doctor's visits and kept me on top of my medications until I was well enough to do them on my own.

But it wasn't just her. It was my immediate and extended family too. It was the prayers I never knew were being prayed over me. It was the doctor that was loyal to me. It was the therapist that heard me out. It was in the comfort of the friends and loved ones who came to visit me. It was in the financial stability that held me, when I wasn't in the state of mind to sustain myself. All of these people were heroic figures in my life and taught me how to save myself from my own mind.

So, when we talked about a mother's love (or a father's, which also applies), we remember those who were there for us when we couldn't even think for ourselves. We recalled those who uplifted us, not just when things were good, but when they were cloudy, when the waters of life were raging and rough.

We learned to be comforters, compassionate in our own rights, once we have experienced that type of love.

If you extended kindness today...if you spread light, love and peace...if you were a helping hand, or an encouraging soul, when you didn't have to be...thank you!

Because the love of a mother or father is someone who looks out for the well-being of someone else. And if that's you, then you've brought life into this world, simply by being the light that you are.

Message From The Author:

Remember, you don't have to have everything in the world to mean everything to someone. May this story be a reminder that kindness counts, love matters, and we can all shine our lights to make this journey of life a better place.