In just a few days, we’ll shower our mothers and wives with roses and words to let them know how special they are to us. And why not? Who in the world deserves recognition, thanks and a great big box of chocolate more than an awesome mom?

She loved you before she even knew you.
And from the moment you met in person, it was all over for her.
She’s sacrificed her own possibilities for the chance that you could have, do and become more.
She hurts when you hurt.
She hopes when you can’t find hope.
She dreams bigger dreams for you than you’ve ever dreamed for yourself.
And she’s convinced you’re worthy of it all…because you’re special…You always have been.

A mother’s love is beautifully irrational. She looks beyond your faults and flaws and sees the very best version of you. She believes that’s who you are – or who you’ll soon become. If belief alone could get you there, she’d hand-deliver you to your destiny.

Truly, a mother’s love and belief are among the most powerful things a person could ever find in this world. If you doubt it, compare notes with someone who no longer has their Mom – or someone who never had her to begin with.

For better or worse, no one shapes our lives more than our mothers because they do it from the inside out. We find their fingerprints on everything – from our grandest deeds to our most tucked away thoughts. So we do our best this week to say, “Thank you, Mom. I want you to know that I know there’s no way I’d be who I am – or where I am – without you.”

Flowers are nice and a Hallmark card might tug on her heartstrings, but we can do better than that. This Mother’s Day, let’s not just tell our Moms what they mean to us, let’s tell each other what they mean to us. Let’s share what goodness we’re pouring out into the world around us because she poured it into us.

I’ll bet your friends would be fascinated to know what parts of you they appreciate or admire about you that likely would never have taken shape if not for your mom being who she is. Reading your thoughts might even help someone else to see the good their own mom contributed to them. It might even change the way they invest in their own child. Pretty worthy effort, if you ask me.

I’ll go first.

– If you’ve ever been moved or inspired by my words, you can thank my Mom for that. When I was a kid, she put little notes in my lunchbox that made me feel ten feet tall and like I could do anything. I suppose I’ve been trying to do the same for others ever since. She passed on a great love for music, lyrics and books to me – and a hunger to share the thing that only she could share. She was a heart-driven, deep thinker…and had a way with words that I’ve rarely encountered.

– If you’ve ever felt accepted by me when others condemned you, you can thank my Mom for that. Sometimes it got her in trouble, but if she saw you in a ditch, she couldn’t help but get down in it with you to get you out. And if someone was picking on you, they’d have her to deal with…Trust me, they didn’t want that.

– If we’ve ever laughed together for longer than a minute solid at something that wasn’t that funny, you can thank my Mom for that. Even in serious moments, it wouldn’t take much to get her going. She was as silly as she was sensible. I think that’s one of my favorite things about her…one of my favorite things about me too.

So how about you? What’s something others say they appreciate about you that you know would never have been possible if not for your Mom’s influence? Or if you prefer this context, what talent or character trait did you get from your Mom that you’re thankful for at this point in your life? Comment below, or even better, share this post and brag on your Mom. 

These days, Facebook and the like are littered with more and more complaining, arguing and negativity. It can feel so…well…negative. So this week, in honor of your Mom and mine, let’s crowd out the negativity and the noise and inspire a movement to honor our moms.

Tell the world around you, “You can thank my Mama for that!”.