A Gift Called Mother: Cherishing Every Moment with Our Mothers

Embracing the New Year with Hope

I’m sure many of you have made a New Year resolution. The question is, will you keep it? I didn’t make a New Year resolution this year. Instead, I’m embracing the thought that it will be a better year.

I’m moving forward because 2025 was such a challenging year for me. I felt lost and hurt. My mother moved in with my brother, and my sister and I couldn’t visit her. We never got an address, only a P.O. Box. It felt like a barrier between us.

A Heart-Wrenching Mother's Day

Mother’s Day 2025 was a day I will never forget. My sister received a message from my brother that our mother was in the hospital. We rushed to the hospital with our husbands. It was the first time I had seen my mother in almost four years. That day marked a painful milestone; it would have been four years on July 30th since I last held her hand.

Suddenly we couldn’t reach our mother again. Fast forward to October, and when we finally saw her, we had no idea how short our time with her would be. My mother passed away on November 19, 2025.

The Importance of Appreciation

I want everyone who reads this post to understand something vital: if your mother is still living, appreciate her. Tell her you love her. Show her that she is important to you. My sister and I did everything we could to express our love for our mother. We told her we loved her every chance we got.

My heart aches now, but I find comfort in knowing that my mother and I said we loved each other every day we spent together. We made the best of the few weeks we had left.

Cherishing Memories

Every moment spent with my mother was a treasure. I remember the laughter we shared, the stories she told, and the warmth of her embrace. These memories are precious. They remind me of the love that binds us, even when we are apart.

As I reflect on our time together, I realize how important it is to create memories with our loved ones. Life is fleeting, and we never know how much time we have left. So, make the effort to connect.

The Gift of Love

Love is a gift we can give freely. It costs nothing but means everything. If your mother is still living, tell her you love her. Make it a habit to express your feelings. A simple "I love you" can brighten her day and strengthen your bond.

In the end, it’s the love we share that matters most. It’s what we carry with us when our loved ones are gone.

Moving Forward with Hope

As I step into this new year, I carry my mother’s love with me. I choose to honor her memory by living fully and loving deeply. I hope you will do the same. Let’s cherish our mothers and the time we have with them.

Sherlyn Powell, author

“A Gift Called Mother; The Stages and Fantasies of Motherhood”

My sister and I did everything we could to show our mother that we loved her. If your mother is still living, tell her you love her.