To all mothers and grandmothers, Happy Mother's Day!
To my loving wife, Freny, thank you for being the mother of our two amazing young adult children, Andrew and Christine. Thank you for all that you do and have done for our family. Thank you for being a "mother" to your students in school.
May your undying love and sacrifice to your children and to us all be rewarded with contentment and satisfaction in life. May God bless you and protect you always as you continue to love and care for us unconditionally.
There's no doubt, you are our true friend, confidant, solace, cheerleader, morale booster, comforter, pacifier, entertainer and our very first teacher in life.
You mothers are everything to us, your children. Without you, we're not here, alive and well; we're not who and what we are in this wonderful world.
Thus, today and always, you deserve the best in life. You are, indeed, a godsend. We love you for whatever and whoever you are.
You risked your lives to bring us forth into this competitive, unpredictable world. You shielded us from harm and danger. You instilled in us good family values, which we carry on in life. And you helped us shape our attitudes toward life because of the moral guidance you provided us.
Your influence on us is truly remarkable. Hence, you are considered the "light" of our home. There's no greater love than yours, mothers.
It has been said that the greatness of our heroes could be traced back to their homes and the care and nurturing of loving mothers. That's why motherhood is much more than a career or profession. It involves love and life, duty and devotion, sacrifice and suffering.
Allow me to share with you this simple poem of mine, dedicated to all mothers who are married or single, separated or widowed, and those who are not here with us. Thank you so much to them all.
MOTHER DEAR
Mother dear, I love you so
Only you can love me true
Teach me life in all you do
Help me to live and to grow
Ever faithful, ever true
Rose of my life, that is you!
Dearest mother, I love you
Eternal God loves you, too
Always there when I need you
Rose of my life, that is you!
-CHRIS A. QUILPA, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, lives in Suffolk. Email him at chris.a.quilpa@gmail.com.
*Appeared in the Opinion page of the award-winning Suffolk News-Herald, Sunday, May 8, 2016. For more information, visit www.suffolknewsherald.com.
