When you were 1 year old, she
fed you and bathed you. You thanked her by
crying all night long.
When you were 2 years old, she taught you to walk. You
thanked her by
running away when she called.
When you were 3 years old, she made all your meals
with love. You
thanked her by tossing your plate on the floor.
When you were 4 years old, she gave you some crayons
You thanked her by
coloring the dining room table.
When you were 5 years old, she dressed you for the
holidays. You thanked
her by plopping into the nearest pile of mud
When you were 6 years old, she walked you to school.
You thanked her by
screaming, "I'M NOT GOING!"
When you were 7 years old, she bought you a baseball.
You thanked her by
throwing it through the next-door-neighbor's window.
When you were 8 years old, she handed you an ice
cream. You thanked her
by dripping it all over your lap.
When you were 9 years old, she paid for piano lessons.
You thanked her
by never even bothering to practice.
When you were 10 years old she drove you all day, from
soccer to
Gymnastics to one birthday party after another. You
thanked her by
jumping out of the car and never looking back.
When you were 11 years old, she took you and your
friends to the movies.
You thanked her by asking to sit in a different row.
When you were 12 years old, she told you not to watch
certain TV shows.
You thanked her by waiting until she left the house.
Those Teenage Years
When you were 13, she suggested a haircut that was
becoming. You thanked
her by telling her she had no taste.
When you were 14, she paid for a month away at summer
camp. You thanked
her by forgetting to write a single letter.
When you were 15, she came home from work, looking for
a hug. You
thanked her by having your bedroom door locked.
When you were 16, she taught you how to drive her car.
You thanked her
by taking it every chance you could.
When you were 17, she was expecting an important call.
You thanked her
by being on the phone all night.
When you were 18, she cried at your high school
graduation. You thanked
her by staying out partying until dawn.
Growing Old and Gray
When you were 19, she paid for your college tuition,
drove you to
campus, carried your bags. You thanked her by saying
good-bye outside
the dorm so you wouldn't be embarrassed in front of
your friends.
When you were 20, she asked whether you were seeing
anyone. You thanked
her by saying, "It's none of your business."
When you were 21, she suggested certain careers for
your future. You
thanked her by saying, "I don't want to be like you."
When you were 22, she hugged you at your college
graduation. You thanked
her by asking whether she could pay for a trip to
Europe.
When you were 23, she gave you furniture for your
first apartment. You
thanked her by telling your friends it was ugly.
When you were 24, she met your fiance and asked about
your plans for the
future. You thanked her by glaring and growling,
"Muuhh-ther, please!"
When you were 25, she helped to pay for your wedding,
and she cried and
told you how deeply she loved you. You thanked her by
moving halfway
across the country.
When you were 30, she called with some advice on the
baby. You thanked
her by telling her, "Things are different now."
When you were 40, she called to remind you of a
relative's birthday. You
thanked her by saying you were "really busy right
now."
When you were 50, she fell ill and needed you to take
care of her. You
thanked her by reading about the burden parents become
to their
children.
And then, one day, she quietly died. And everything
you never did came
crashing down like thunder.
SHE IS YOUR HEART. LOVE HER MORE THAN YOU LOVE
YOURSELF. LIFE IS MEANINGLESS WITHOUT HER...
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances dictate.
Send by Mary Ann map@cfl.rr.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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