I HAVE SPENT THE HAPPIEST MOMENTS OF MY LIFE in the arms of another man’s wife. That woman was my mother. She was the only creature on earth who could cry when she was happy, laugh when she was heartbroken, and work when she was feeling ill. She was a curious mixture of patience, kindness, understanding, discipline, industriousness, and love. My mom! what an example and what an awesome influence.

Mother taught me so much about life---to wash behind my ears, to hate the taste of soap, to finish my chores before playing, to do my homework, to fess up, to be on time, to accept responsibility, and on and on. Who can begin to estimate the value of motherhood?

I’m so glad we have a day nationally to recognize the importance of motherhood, although really we should take time daily to express our appreciation for her while we have the opportunity.

It was a woman named Anna M. Jarvis who first suggested the national observance of an annual day honoring all mothers because she had loved her own mother so dearly. At a memorial service for her mother on May 10, 1908, Miss Jarvis gave a carnation (her mother’s favorite flower) to each person who attended. Within the next few years, the idea of a day to honor mothers gained popularity, and Mother’s Day was observed in a number of large cities in the U.S. On May 9, 1914, by an act of Congress, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He established the day as a time for "public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country."

Happy “Mother’s Day” to all you moms out there. You deserve the best. Thanks for all the love, sacrifice, and lessons both taught and caught. You’re the greatest.