

MY MOTHER

A global tribute to all mothers

A compilation of inspirational stories written by sons and daughters, dedicated to mothers around the world.

Published by Dan Verghese at Smashwords Inc.

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**ISBN:** 9781311882837

Copyright © All rights reserved Dan Verghese - 2014.

Price for e-book version: USD 0.00

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This book is also currently listed and featured in the Limca Book of Records

the Asian equivalent of the Guinness Book of World Records.

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Hard Copy version of this book is available online at

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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Contents

Foreword

Preface

1. Dan Verghese My mother

2. Christopher Thomas, Prof., Dr. My sacrificial mother

3. Thankamma Thomas My grandmother and her tryst with destiny

4. Rajeev Mathew Thomas When the going gets tough, mother gets me going

5. Anjana Elizabeth Abraham The golden angel of my life

6. Nitin Mathew My special mother

7. Vignesh Gounder, Dr. My cherished mother

8. Priya Rajendran Poem: A tear drop

9. Siva Sankar B A silent victim of love

10. Luisa Bernabe Patricia's lullaby

11. Rian Abraham A lonely mother's struggle

12. Alexia Marciano, Dr. Influence of a lifetime

13. Robert Mangeri My amazing wonderful mother

14. Adi Tarmaster Poem: Mother

15. Almas Bano, Col. Poems: Mother & The sunset

16. Eisha Sarkar Mother's the word

17. Rajini Singh Life teaches

18. Gina Susan John The beauty of nature

19. Archana Kamath The hand that rocks the cradle

20. Kiran Bala Poem: Looking at mother

21. Nisha Dias Poem: Happy birthday mother

22. Renuka Khanna Mother – God's representative on earth

23. Usha Rao Following the words of wisdom

24. Meenakshi Bagchi Ganeriwala An opportunity lost

25. Ashish Kumar Gupta Mother – as I know her

26. Raheja R. G. Woman – this is your story

27. Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar What I learned from my mother

28. Chaitanya J Parikh Mothers – then and now

29. Preetha Rengaswamy Whatever I am – I owe to my mother

30. Sony Raheja Make the most of what you have

31. Susmita Das Gupta and Suchismita Das Gupta Our misty mother

32. Brittany Sargent Create a great day

33. Mary Qast Mothers, women empowered

34. Uday B Nagavarapu Never replaced

35. Babu RHV I know she did

36. Bhonagiri Monica Fulfilling her ambition

37. Sudha Lukka Grandmother's memories

38. Pushpalatha A. Through dark phases of life

39. Rajkiran Gouni Waiting at the gate for me

40. Sravani KP Love at first sight

41. Aruna Kallu Greatness of a mother

42. Emma Robinson Memories are forever

43. Sam Mathew Dr. Cherishing her memories

44. Sunitha Shyam Keep rocking mother

45. Aishwarya Santosh A wonderful mother

46. Arshita Surbhi Before I was myself, you made me, me

47. Ashwin Radhakrishnan My super woman

48. Beulah Shalayane Christopher The queen of my life – my mother

49. Catherine Mohanji Gera The beam in my life

50. Cindy Jocelyn Fernandes An angel in my life

51. Clewin Pinto The most influential persons in my life – my mother

52. Elina Lukose A daily gift for my angel

53. Fahima Abdul Aziz The voice of Silence

54. Grace Sarah John Amma – My guardian angel

55. Maimoona Rahman Chef mother

56. Mansour Saadat Hamid May God bless you dear

57. Meghna Dipaksinh Jadav A mother is a mother always

58. Nadine Patricia Martin She is happy

59. Najiya Muhyidheen Abdul Rahman Another day without mother

60. Noora Shifa Unforgettable

61. Priya Varughese Not just another lady

62. Sana Khan My mother – my mentor, my motivator and my guru

63. Shruthi Mathai Gradual mother

64. Sneha Balan A tribute to my mother

65. Yasmeen Gul Khan My mother – my angel

66. Rajeev Balakrishnan Grains of sand

67. Martha Jette Memories of mother – my true life angel

68. Heba Sajid Amin Ummi – my mother

69. Kasturi Subhadra My name is in your heart

70. Athulya Byju My mother – my treasure

71. Hriddhi Pratim Guha My mother to the rescue

72. Nivedita Mohan The realization

73. Pratheeksha Prabhash Lucky mascot

74. Aveed Sheikh Mother I miss you

75. Fathima Zahra Kamil Faiz My gift of opportunity

76. Moustafa Amin Mohammed Ali The angel of my life

77. Yousra Samir Braveheart

78. Nittala A. L. Sruthi Generations of influence

79. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Dr. Embodiment of Love

Postscript

My Mother Co Authors List (Alphabetical)

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Foreword

As a professor of psychology, I am honored to have been asked to write a forward for this significant, loving, and personal collection of stories told by people from all walks of life about their mothers. The impact of these stories will resonate in my thought process permanently. This book is a gift to all the children and mothers of the world.

The majority of psychologists believe that mothers are the singular most important influence in the development of healthy children. This is especially true in the first couple of years of life when attachment, warmth, trust, and security are so important. Many studies indicate that attachment is the one basic need that gives a child at least some hope of making it psychologically in life. One only needs to look at the horrifying tragedies from abandoned and neglected children worldwide to see the personality difficulties faced by these children that did not receive the nurturing spirit of a loving and accepting mother.

I recently lost my own beloved mother. To be an orphan at the age of 70 is life altering. The one person who was always there for me is no longer available to call, hug, guide, care, and share her unconditional love. Nothing can replace a mother's love. However, you move on and integrate all of the wonderful qualities and lessons learned from her in your everyday life. The main gift that my mother gave me was the freedom, strength, and support to develop and create my own concept of what it means to be a man. She believed in me and validated me to the point where I could take numerous creative chances that were in direct conflict with the mainstream. She allowed individuality for all.

To give someone the courage to be creative, imaginative, and adventurous is a wonderful gift that only a mother who truly loves a child could provide. Every day I try to pass these gifts on to my students as a legacy to my mother.

As I read many of the co-authored stories, I found a universal theme that one's mother is a driving force in creating the person that one becomes in life. Each author expresses the importance of an enduring and supportive role provided by his or her mother.

Dan Verghese with the help of Christopher has assembled a beautiful and meaningful collection of stories about mothers. The dedication and hard work of these men has created a profound piece of literature that will reach a much needed audience. Story telling has historically been one of the best ways in all cultures to accomplish learning. Reading these stories will have a tremendous impact and will restore your faith in humanity.

I would like to express my special thoughts to Dr. Christopher Thomas who was my former student during his doctoral research. He impressed me immediately with his devotion and tenacity to the betterment of others. His contribution to this piece of literature is another example of his life-long dedication to human rights.

Dr. John M. Toothman, PhD

Professor of Psychology

Goldey-Beacom College (USA)

Board of Governors/External Scholar

Intercultural Open University Foundation (NL)

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Preface

I am sure that today my mother is smiling from wherever she is, because that is what she always did when she was proud of what I did for her. Unfortunately, when she was alive, there was not much that I could do for her, because we had to go through great difficulties and suffering, especially during the Second World War. I remember the days when she had to give up her meal, to ensure that I had something to eat. After many decades, and changing times, I realized that I wanted to do something enduring to express my love and affection for her, and to let everyone know how much of an influence she had been in my life.

My cousin Christopher, a published author and human rights counsel, appreciated my quest and agreed to provide me the necessary support to help my dream come true. Together, we devised a strategy to produce a great and unique tribute to not only my mother, but to all mothers, in the form of a book, by inviting those interested, to write about their mothers. Christopher's son, Rajeev who is a creative thinker and involved in numerous projects in different parts of the world, was incorporated into the venture. He helped us to create an exclusive world wide website, which invited people to write and submit their stories online. Rajeev then assisted us in evaluating these submissions and he led the editorial team. The rest was like magic.

The concept was also promoted through the media and creative writing contests, invoking great interest from schools and colleges in different parts of the Middle East, where Rajeev resides. Selected stories from these contests have also been included in this book. What evolved is a collection of seventy nine selected submissions which comprise this book. At the end of 2009, we decided to stop accepting any more stories so that we could have the book on shelves in time for Mother's Day 2010.

While reading each and every story that came in, we were overwhelmed by the sentiments from many of the stories. Some of them will make you laugh, while others will make you cry. Many people wrote to us expressing their extreme gratitude for this initiative, which according to them, was a long time heart's desire that was now being realized through collective efforts. Many of them had missed the opportunity to say thank you to their mothers while alive and found solace by writing for this book.

We have a wide range of stories written by people from around the world. We have stories from children as young as nine and ten years old, and mostly from adults of all ages, including a lady who is well into her nineties. We have stories from people who are currently working, as well as those who are now retired. We have a great number of stories from teenagers, whose perspective of their mothers is truly different and extremely thought provoking. We have a story from a doctor specializing in cancer treatment, who drew his inspiration from his mother who died of cancer when he was still a child. She had left him a letter asking him to become a doctor so that he could save the lives of many other mothers. We are extremely grateful that the former President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Adbul Kalam, who is also a renowned scientist and educator, has provided us his mother's story for inclusion in this book. We have placed his story as the last one, serving as an excellent ending to the book.

In short, this book makes transparent the feelings and love of each and every person who has contributed to this book. I honestly acknowledge gratitude deep from my heart, for all of their efforts to express their love for their mothers. It is important for the reader to accept the great cultural differences in the various parts of the world from where these stories originated. Often, what is relevant in one part of the world may not be so in another. Surprisingly, these differences are what really make each story unique and compelling. Nevertheless, in spite of all of the cultural and geographic diversity evident in the stories, one common theme remains - that is the intensity of each author's love for their mothers.

I am filled with gratitude to my cousin Christopher, for his support in this project, as well as to Rajeev, who spent months setting up the website, managing the contents and submissions, and working with the editorial team during the preparation of this book. I thank all members of my family who were patient with me during the production of this book, and especially to my daughters, Lisa and Alexia, who painstakingly read through the stories and provided their input and comments.

A work of thanks also goes to Fazeena Saleem, who reviewed this book from her perspective as a journalist, as well as to all of the people who have reviewed this book and provided feedback, but did not want to be named. All of your comments and thoughts have greatly enhanced the quality of this book. The cover of a book plays a very important role in its success. In this regard, I thank Genesis Magat for his hard work in creating the picture of the mother and child used on the front cover of this book.

In being published, this book marks the culmination of the collective efforts of so many people. I am hopeful that this book will be read by many people from around the world. I am happy that I have been able to do this for my mother, and for the mothers of all of our co-authors and readers.

Beloved Mothers... we love you all, and thank you for everything you have done for your sons and daughters.

Dan Verghese

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Introduction

George Washington, the 1st US President (1789-1797) had said in his autobiography that "My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am, I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her."

Undoubtedly, it is the same story with every individual on this earth because a mother is the truest friend one has, an icon of unconditional love and care, the cynosure of eyes until we grew up and started to live on our own. While one is still young and unresolved and when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity, when close friends desert us, when the sun sets and troubles thicken around us, she still cling to us, mantling and reassuring us with her warm support of encouragement and guidance. She endeavors us by her kind precepts and counsels, she dissipates the clouds of darkness, and causes peace to return to our hearts. We can never forget in our lifetime her gentle and affectionate goodnight kisses at every bedtime.

No one on earth needs an introduction on this most significant topic; perhaps the only topic which every living being had enjoyed best in their own life; be it for long or short duration. Naturally, mothers are universally rated to a unique superior position closer to that of God; a much-eulogized status because she is the person responsible for bringing a child to this world, mould him or her to a good human being with most dedicated and tender care. Actually, mother is the one who have historically fulfilled the primary roles in raising children. In this aspect all mothers of the world; past and present are just the same. The development of a person is highly based on his or her mother's ways. The onus lies in her to teach right or wrong to the child. Molding a person to fit-well into the contemporary world is not simple but a very difficult task. That is why, having given such importance to motherhood, we celebrate 'Mothers Day' every year, throughout the world.

It may be true that by and large in the western countries they have acknowledged the burdens of motherhood resulting in more and more women opting to remain childless, even spinsters. It is really difficult for a woman to manage several roles of becoming a bread-winner, a maid, teacher, psychologist, wife, cook, entertainer, daughter, daughter-in-law and event manager for the husband, all at the same time, neglecting or sacrificing her own most important priorities in life. But that is exactly the reason mothers are considered the flag-bearers of the human race anywhere. When we acknowledge that the mother is the greatest gift to mankind, it is our responsibility also to make her feel so in whatever best way we may think fit. That is our message to all our readers because all of us – without any exception – have a mother.

However, every one of us is not equally blessed to enjoy the love and care of the mother at least during the tender younger days for varied reasons. The very thought of unfortunate kids who grew up and lived without the companionship of mothers; is very unexciting and disturbing. A mother is a mother; it does not matter whether she is good looking or ugly, lame or deaf, or whatever her status in society is. She is the most beautiful woman every man or woman met in life as George Washington said, her external outlook or social status or whatever is of no consequence, because she held the key to your life.

The anecdote of a woman with the hunchback is testimonial to this fact. The story goes like this. A priest in a village lost his wife; and he found it hard to raise his young daughter. Though not inclined to marry once again, his conditions were such that he needed someone to raise his baby girl giving the unconditional love of a mother. His friends told him of a woman in the nearby village unmarried for a long time because of a hunchback that made her looked unappealing. The woman also was so desperate in life that she willingly became the second wife to the priest and promised to look after the little one as her primary concern. After they got married, the priest's villagers began to whisper at the fence and near village well as to how ridiculous is the priest to go for a wife with a hunchback.

Many waters flew under the bridge year after year and the girl grew up as a young lady. The ruthless comments of the villagers reached the girl's ears too and then only she purposefully looked at her mother and realized that she indeed has a hunchback. The affection she received so far from the lady made her blind enough not to be concerned by the physical deficiency of the lady and that did not matter to her in any way. She rebuked the villagers for having found such a silly issue and blown it big when she herself or her father was unconcerned. Such is the divine relation between a mother and child. The greatness of a mother is never underscored by her external appearance but it is the real heart that speaks, because she is the source of life, wisdom of God on earth for a child. The sentimental umbilical-cord-relation of a mother and her offspring is never severed at the grave and even beyond.

Our esteemed readers may have read several books earlier on parents in general and fathers or mothers in particular. The subject is so much captivating in the life of every person that any amount of writings does not fulfill our individual obligation in saying 'Thank You Mother' in all our life. What at best we can do is to tell more and more people about it and that is precisely the aim in the formulation of this book, which is probably the first of its kind. A number of stories herein are so much emotive; you may need a hand kerchief at hand to wipe your tears.

The author of this volume wish to let the credit of authorship go to all those who participated in this event by contributing to the compilation of the book by giving their side of actual stories from their own life detailing one or two unforgettable incidents briefly so that it could be compiled with the rest and printed for publication. By doing so, the contributors are authorizing the originator and publishers without reservations or claims of any kind to tell their story in an adequate manner to the world through this book. In return, they have the satisfaction of remembering their mothers with gratitude.

In my opinion, Dan Verghese has made all out efforts to do justice to the participants by not altering the central theme of stories.

To enable transparent communication with the public, an exclusive website was created, namely www.my-mother.net giving every detail on the project and provisions to write and submit the stories through the web. A technical and editorial team then categorically scrutinized all the entries and selected the ones included in this book strictly on merit.

The stories speak for themselves to the world the love and care the first author and his co-authors have enjoyed from their mothers, whatever way they described it. I am sure that all mothers in the world deserve such fitting tributes. Well done Dan.

Christopher Thomas

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# _A mother is someone who guides and inspires. She helps us to attain our dreams and desires. Wisdom and insight are part of her way, and her faith in her children brightens their days._

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 1. My Mother

By Dan Verghese

"I would say that one's mother is the only person one can call his own."

I am currently a resident of Naples, Florida. For almost the past five decades, I have lived comfortably as a citizen of the United States of America, with my wife, one son, and two daughters, all of whom are medical doctors. However, my earlier days were a contrast to my present lifestyle. I had to endure primarily economic problems while I was very young. Furthermore, it was during the Second World War, and there was general scarcity and want throughout the world.

In spite of inconsistent living conditions, I always knew that my mother loved me so much. She would often forfeit her own meals in those days, so that I could have one meal when I got home from school. I knew that she was hungry and that she had no place to go, and no one to ask for help. When I was six years old, I suffered from asthma related breathing problems. There were many times when she would sit next to me throughout the night, in order to watch me and make sure that I did not stop breathing. We could not afford to go to private doctors, so she had to take me to the government hospital, where we would sit for hours in the heat and sun, waiting in long lines in order to see a doctor to treat my tuberculosis. I still remember that one day, when we were so close to the doctor's room, I started coughing, but there was no place to spit the heavy mucus. My mother showed me her hand, and said "Spit it, Son."

There were several days when I had no lunch during school. While the others were eating lunch, I would go to play in the football field, hoping that when I got home, there would be something for me to eat. One day when I came home, my mother looked at my face and said "Son, I just don't have anything to give you." She then found a green banana from some place, and said "I will boil and give it to you now." That was the only meal I had that day. Today, I ensure that not a single person goes to bed without food in my old village, even though the conditions of the poor have greatly improved there. My quota of food supplies reach the poor every month and I am blessed enough to continue my humble services without any hindrance. This alone gives me some satisfaction in life.

There are many similar incidents that I still remember even after 60 years. The above are just two of the things that I can never forget.

There were several occasions when I witnessed my mother's love and affection. I left home in my early twenties. It was not easy or possible to visit my parents as often as I wished, twenty thousand miles away. Due to my work, personal circumstances and responsibilities, it was even difficult to call her as often as I wanted to. For years, they did not have a telephone at their home, so I could only send letters. In those days, the mail took 10 days to go from the U.S. to India. My mother would sit and watch for the mailman to come each day, to see if there was a letter from me. When the mailman would bring a letter to her door, she would always ask him who it was from. If it was from me, she would hug and kiss him, and give him something to drink. She would read the letter over and over, and treasured it, keeping it under her pillow until she got another one. When she passed away, I found 40 year old letters in her drawers, all from me. She had never destroyed a single one.

In later years, I managed to get a telephone installed in their home. That was a blessing from the sky for my mother. As soon as the phone would ring, she would ask my sister or whoever picked up the phone, if it was me. If it was not me, she would be very disappointed.

As the years passed, my circumstances changed and I could visit her once every two or three years. Due to my work schedule, I could not promise my mother an exact time of arrival of my visit. Every day after breakfast, she would sit on the porch in front of the house, read the newspaper, and watch to see if anyone was coming through the gate. Many passersby would stop and say to my mother "I see you sitting in the same place everyday, looking at everyone who comes and goes." Her reply would be "No, I am waiting for my son. Maybe he will surprise me and walk into the house today." She did this until she was 92 years old.

When my mother was in a coma during her last days of life, she did not open her eyes or talk to anyone near her bedside. I was far away in the U.S., when I was informed of her condition. I immediately flew down to my home in India to meet my mother for the last time perhaps. I was not sure if she would be alive when I saw her. As soon as I walked into her room, I called her, "Mom". She heard and recognized me, and whispered my name, hardly moving her lips. I sat beside her and attended to her needs. My mother passed away after a few days. Her loss has caused a big vacuum in my life, even though I myself am an old man now. I am only grateful that I was a good son to my mother throughout my life, was able to support her, even wait on her during her last days, and arrange a decent funeral for her.

Still, now I wish I could have done a lot more for my mother. It is too late now and there is no scope for such thoughts because she is gone forever. That is why I always say that one's mother is the only person one can claim as one's own; not even one's father, in my opinion.

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I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.

Abraham Lincoln

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 2. My sacrificial mother

By Prof. Dr. Christopher Thomas, PhD.

I have a painting of my mother in my dining room. I sit facing her and look at her at every meal, quiet often my eyes dampening.

My father died of Pneumonia when I was hardly 9 months old and still crawling around. I was the third child to my good parents and my elder ones were around five years each elder. I heard from my mother that my father loved me very much and had high hopes and dreams for me. This would not happen the way he dreamt.

We lived in a village and our main income was from cultivation apart from some small business my father did. The unexpected death of my father resulted in the collapse of our economic stand and my mother found it very hard to feed and educate her three children and to us three children, she was our father and mother both to look upon. None of our relatives were resourceful in this aspect. Difficult times, difficult situations, difficult problems, life continued bitterly year after year. Our poor mother watched us growing amidst scarcity and tried her best in protecting and taking care of us from all the perils life would create. She devoted her life just for her kids. She did not give up even in the midst of many odds and was very much determined and hopeful that one day her sons will be men worthy enough to live their life as well as take care of her when she is old. My elder sister was married to a small time businessman from the nearby village. My brother grew up and grabbed an engineering diploma and secured a small job in another state and was far away from my mother and me. It was hard for him alone to support my mother and me for all our needs.

When it was time for me to go to the college, there was not enough money to meet the fees and traveling expenses though I got admission in one of our colleges run by the church. By the time I have borrowed enough to pay for the fees, my seat was given to someone else. Even the College Principal who as a priest was not kind enough to support the poor me though they punctually preach and pretend to help the poor, from the pulpits. My mother was an honest believer and she thought and hoped that God will take care of all the widows and helpless people as we were. None of these worked to our benefit. My ambition to become a professor in our college itself shattered to dust.

My brother wished I would become an engineer like him but I had no interest in that line. My life took a different turn. I have joined the Railways and worked in its operations department in a supervisory job which I liked well. After a few years, I found better job prospects abroad and thus from one phase to another I prospered in life. My brother took care of my mother and her life was at ease now as she enjoyed going to church and local prayer meets as she wished.

Once her health had deteriorated including her eye-sight, we arranged for a home nurse to look after her all needs in our absence but kept the communication alive. When she was past 80 years of age she fell down and broke her hip which was operated on and salvaged. The credit for that goes to my brother as at that time she lived with him.

In short, my good mother had a contented life when her children grown up although she had to take it a challenge to raise us when every situation was uphill task for her and full of great sacrifices which she braved with determination. We all children knew that any amount of support and love we give in return to our mother does not equal one day's sacrifice of our beloved mother. She is no more with us; she passed away peacefully ten years before. It is not possible for me to slip away even one day without remembering her and I often think I should have done much more for her even when she admitted once that I have done everything possible a son can do. I have a painting of my mother in my dining room. I sit facing her and look at her at every meal, quiet often my eyes dampening; remembering hard times I gave her when I was immature and wonder how much I would have wounded her at heart. She was helpless, but not hopeless of me turning a responsible man once; which I was long before. That is the sort of vision any mother may have for their children.

The sacrifices of my mother did not go waste or her expectations futile. Even when I was forced to take up my first job earlier than expected, I continued my studies side by side with my jobs in different parts of the world, and took Master's degrees in four different topics including one in Philosophy which facilitated my Doctorate and thus become professor of an international university thereby fulfilling my mother's and my own aspirations. My mother is not alive to see my achievements as my father had desired his son would become. My growth, my fortunes and my privileges are nothing but the blessings of my mother. She is not with me today, but her memories are.

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# _The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness_

# _Honoree de Balzac_

# _French Novelist (1799-1850)_

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 3. My grandmother and her tryst with destiny

By Thankamma Thomas

This is the awesome story of a decisive lady who was widowed at her youthful age of 20 years, yet determined to raise her two little children amidst all odds and seen them live respectful lives as she wished them to be.

She grew up in an indigent situation in the 1900s in an Indian village consisting of mainly farmers. Her father could not find her a suitable young husband because of the dowry system that prevailed then and hence given her in marriage when she was just 17 years, to an older widower with a girl child from his first marriage. He lived in a small town nearly 10 km from her birthplace. He too needed a girl from a good family as his wife who would look after his kid giving love and care as she would receive from a real mother. The marriage was consecrated in the town church and they began to live a contented life. There were four younger brothers for this man which became additional burden for the lady in looking after their needs too.

Time passed on. She gave birth to a son and when he was around two years of age, she became pregnant and went to her father's home and gave birth to their second son. She stayed there for some more time because her two small kids needed to be taken care and her two sisters could support her in that.

One day a messenger from her husband's home came in a single bull drawn cart, which was the only available mode of quick transport those days, and asked her to go with him. It was a period no communication was possible by telephone or the modern sort as of today and she immediately took both her kids and started for her husband's home. She was very thrilled at the thought of meeting her husband with the new born baby boy whom her husband had not seen for some time.

As she approached her husband's home, she saw a funeral procession entering the main road and heading towards the church cemetery. The twenty year old housewife was still full of pleasant thoughts of meeting her husband in a few minutes and sharing delightful moments of her life together after her husband kiss both children in great satisfaction no sooner they reached home. However, out of her inquisitiveness she enquired from the cart man as to who the dead person was. The cart man at that stage had no other way than telling her the painful truth that it is her own dear husband's body being taken to the church and that he died the previous night due to snake-bite in front of their home and that was why she was summoned to come home hurriedly. On hearing that painful news, she cried aloud and fell unconscious in the cart. The cart man took the bullock cart to the cemetery to reach there before they bury the body. Her relatives sprinkled water on her face and she got up only just to see her husband's body being lowered to the grave. She managed to kiss him a last time before she became unconscious once again. Those days, it was not possible as in modern times to preserve the body in an icebox or in mortuary before all people could join to give a fair farewell to the deceased.

Some of her people suggested that she be practical and marry again, but she made up her mind against it and focused her ambition on raising the two boys and making them into fine men. She continued to live with her husband's thoughts, taking care of her husband's younger brothers, and her own two tender children. There were not enough financial resources to live a comfortable life, but with the help of little support of her own farmer brother and the comforting words of her sisters, she gained strength to manage her life with all limitations consolidated on her shoulders, but with a strong will to go on in life whatever hardships lay ahead. She decided to raise her children and see them become school-teachers, which was a very respectful and decent job in those days. Only with such kind of a job my children can come home every evening and I can be with them sharing the love and warmth of a family in the absence of my husband, she pondered

She did not forget to give good guidance for her children to work in their land and cultivate whatever possible so that they may save some money and buy a small paddy field which could be looked after by her brother and she could use the paddy for the livelihood of the family. Besides, she found a suitable husband for her stepdaughter and married her away and the girl lived a very comfortable life thereafter. The lady was always a support and cover to the girl until she herself became a mother of grown up children. Her husband's younger brothers were also settled by now one by one and she became sort of independent while her both children grew in a disciplined and lovable ambiance. She used her spare times to sit with other women of the neighborhood and pray for each other and to visit sick and suffering people around in her locality, console them and pray for them. People, coming from distant places, like teachers, evangelists, priests were all well received at her home, serving food and offering a place to rest as they needed without any reservations of any kind. Her both children observed this attitude of sharing and caring. After their graduation from school, they both became school teachers as their mother wished. As a family they received respect and love of their neighbors and from whoever came in contact with them.

Both her children were married to good family girls when time was ripe and they also lived happily. The lady gave consent for her elder son to build his own home in one portion of the family property so that every day at least once they all could meet together. Until the death of the old lady - my beloved grand mother- there was not a single day both children failed to sit at the bedside of their mother, entertain her and brief her the day's events. I should say my grand mother was the richest lady on earth when it came to getting love from her children. She was the most daring woman in the world perhaps who fought all odds in life from the age of just 20 years without the support of a man or money and still achieved what she had dreamt to achieve.

My grandmother lived up to the age of 90 years. Before she left all of us, she saw a mutually devoted and flourishing family, the one she raised from roots, where the 'father' was a just story retold; and that too a miserable story at that.

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# 4. When the going gets tough – mother gets me going.

By Dr. Rajeev M Thomas

A son's description of how his mother gets him going over all difficulties through her inspirational words and thoughts.

If I were to look back at my life's forty odd years that have gone by, it has been filled with ups and downs like the lives of most people on the face of this earth. There had been very good times and very bad times. However, through all these turbulences, my mother has been very instrumental in strengthening me and often guiding me in the right path, especially when the going gets really tough, and I was reduced to nothing but a tremble.

I see how my kids are growing up now in what I call the 'instant' world, where everything has become so instantaneous, starting from the instant coffee, to the instant milk powders, the instant noodles, instant messaging, and even instant marriages and instant break ups. Not so long ago, every thing was so 'instant'. And I am sure that in many parts of the developing world, the situation is still worse. Now it's easier for young parents to take care of their little ones (Okay, you young parents out there may not completely agree with me). You can rely now-a-days on diapers to take care of most of the dirty works, the instant baby food and cereals to take care of the hunger element, your entire range of electronic gizmo like microwaves, kettles, air-conditioners, fans, humidifiers and what not, to take care of so many other jobs, which in the earlier days were not even heard of by most of our parents.

In my case, my parents lived in a remote part of Andhra Pradesh in India, where my dad was working, and they did not even have electricity at home. All travels included tagging along bulky baskets full of all kinds of stuff from spare clothing, water to wash the 'ever too often toilet issues', hot water filled flasks to 'manufacture' food on the go, and what not. And by the way, the common means of transport were by foot, bus and trains. Those were the days when injections and antibiotics were not the first line treatment for most common ailments. These were the days where digital thermometers and ice bags and fever fighting suppositories were not heard of, and treatment of fevers mostly involved sleepless nights of feeling forehead for temperature changes and then cloth pieces dipped in cooled water applied to forehead to bring down the fever. And normally it would be the mother's responsibility to take care of the child when the father goes to work, or comes home tired after the day's toil.

Having given a background of my early days, I move on to school and college days where my mother was directly responsible for the day to day upbringing of myself and my sister, because our father was working abroad, having gone to 'the gulf' to make our fortunes. She brought us up in strict discipline, imparting various values early on, which were to be the foundation on which our future growth into adulthood would be based. While giving sufficient freedom, she always maintained control to ensure that we were not compromising on our values in any manner. This instilled in us the sense of responsibility for one's own actions.

Soon it was my turn to pursue my dream job in 'the gulf' and I left with an advice from my mother, which was to pave way for a lot of my growth in the long run. She said, "Son, be prepared to let go of your ego in order to achieve your larger objectives. This was one of my first major lessons from her. This advice has helped me negotiate various deals, and work around various seemingly impossible stalemates – which I realized later on, were only there because of the 'ego' factor, without which there really was no problem.

My mother's next major advice to me came when I was going through a particularly stressful situation in life. She has a way of giving me a one liner advice just when I am about to leave back to my place of work, and am about to get into the vehicle that is to take me to the airport. This time, her advice was "Son, give love and receive love". As simple as it sounded, I reflected over it through my few hours of flight, and I was able to move ahead and out of my stalemate with a completely different perspective.

A third advice that I received from her during one of my more recent visits to India on holidays was "Son, be patient, and everything will be alright". I used to suffer from various bouts of high pressure for months before this advice was given to me, especially because I was a bit too impatient and wanted immediate results, and believe me, after that, I have been able to tide over rough times, by using the simple technique of 'patience'.

Needless to say, having been through various ups and downs through life, various bright times and many a dark time, my mother and her unique advices have helped sustain me throughout, especially when the going gets really tough.

Thank you Mom.. keep the advices coming. I can never have enough of them.

(By the way, this does not mean there is nothing to write about Dad – that is a subject for a whole new book. Not here though. This one's all about Mothers.)

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A mother is a mother still, the holiest thing alive

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

English lyrical poet, critic, philosopher

(1772-1834)

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 5. The golden angel of my life

By Anjana Elizabeth Abraham

"Here is the story of our youngest female contributor, thankfully remembering her mother's love and sacrifices, and gratefully acknowledging her supports".

Hello everybody. My name is Anjana Elizabeth Abraham. I am 10 years of age now and would like to pen something on my loving mother. I am inspired after peeping into some of the nicest stories in this book, which I happened to notice when my grandpa was editing it for the author. My story may not be very passionate as I am a child yet, but still I thought it is a good occasion to express my heart for my mother's unparallel love and sacrifices I have seen even within this short span of ten years period.

First of all, I should say I feel so guilty for causing my mother to allow doctors cut open her belly to get me out of it, because my position inside made it impossible for a normal delivery if my mother and I were to live, as I understand. My mom gladly accepted that suffering even before she saw my face because she wanted to see me living along with her if a surgical intervention could help. I am the only child for my parents.

I spent my tender age in Madras, India, together with my parents and maternal grand parents because my dad and mom were both working in Madras then. My mummy was from the first ever batches of Lady Officers of the Indian Air Force before her marriage, but she left her prestigious job in the Air Force after marriage. After my birth she took up a job with one of the travel bureaus in Madras and attended to her works leaving me under the care of my grandparents for the time she is in office. I remember those days when I was just two feet in height and used to stand up on a metal piece with my neck hardly above the gate looking for my mom arriving home around 4.15 in the evening from her office rushing through the congested traffic nearly 10 km soon after her office time. I surrender down at her feet for that sort of love and concern she had for me. After a short while she discontinued that job because she wanted to be with me and attend to my needs through out the day and nights.

Thereafter we moved to Fort Kochi in Kerala where I actually belong because my father is a native there. We had our own dwelling place in the Air Force and Naval Officers' Colony; a well kept up and guarded residential area. I did my schooling from there by joining a prominent Convent School run by Roman Catholic Nuns. Again we moved to Ootty the most sensational hill station in Tamil Nadu, which is considered comprising some of the best educational institutions in south India. In order to facilitate my personal care, my mother took up the job of Administrator in the same school and continued to support me even in such an ambiance.

As times rolled by, we lived for a short period in Bangalore, the garden city of India where my mom worked as the Manager of a private company. In order to get me better financial support and good environments, once again we moved to Qatar finding jobs for both my parents and we now live in this nice place very comfortably.

In all, I should say, I was always the Cynosure of Eyes for my mother who has literally sacrificed career, comforts and personal privileges, all just to see me enjoy life better while we are together yet. I can't forget incidents like her going for shopping for all family, but most often end up purchasing cloths and other things of utility just for me and return.

I often wonder, had she been personally selfish and uncaring, where would I have been, including the incident of my birth!

I love my mom who only addresses me "Sweet heart". I can't go to bed without saying "goodnight, I love you mom". I know that the love she gives me, her adoring company, sharing her knowledge in almost everything under the sun, are all with the sharp focus in making me one of the best individuals in the world brought up in great discipline, selfless love and everything that is marvelous.

You are the golden angel of my life Mom, I love you so much.

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No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you – love

\- Anonymous

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 6. My special mother

By Nitin Mathew

This is the story by our youngest author (9 yrs old) who expresses why his mother is very special to him.

My mother's name is Ciby. She is 38 years old and her favourite colours are red and pink. She loves sweets and likes to take a nap in the afternoons after returning from work. She was born in Kerala in India and got married to my father when she was 22 years old. She is very busy with her work. She is also very special to me. Do you know why?

She is special to me because she does a lot of things for me like cook food for me and my two brothers, teaches us well etc.

She is also special because she started a school for children with special needs. This was because my elder brother also has special needs and she could not find a school to send him to in the place that we are living in. My father helped her to start the school and now she has 5 teachers and 20 students in the school. But the work in the school keeps her very busy. She can easily get angry if we disturb her when she is doing something or sleeping. But that is OK for me because I think all mothers are like that and they need some time of their own.

I love my mother and am proud of her and all that she does. I thank her for the love that she gives me and my brothers.

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A mother understand what a child does not say

Anonymous

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 7. My cherished mother

By Dr. Vignesh Gounder, M.D.

I still hold my mother's letter dearest to my chest, the one she wrote to me before her death when I was just two years old.

I am the only son for my parents who lived a happy life with all necessities of life available and affordable. My father, being a thriving farmer owning fairly large landed property and being an acceptable leader for many people in our area was kind of a popular person which he is still. My mother was a house wife and she was very supportive to my father as well as helpful to the people in and around.

When I was just about two years of age, my mother was diagnosed with the deadly cancer. The charm in our family life began to fade away. My mother, on her part was a dedicated person possessing strong will. She had definite plans and aspirations for her only little son but knew that in existing conditions of her health, she would not be able to accomplish her future plans for me all by herself.

My father gave my mother the best medical treatment available in the country, but could not save her life; she succumbed to the disease. I was just two and half years of age when she bid au-de to us. What I did not know for a few more years is that before her death, she wrote a two-page letter addressed to me and handed over to my father to pass on to me when I will be able to read and understand it in the future. It was her heart for me, her absolute love and expectations of me she would not see for herself.

The letter explained how distressing is she to leave me and pass away in a short spell of time after that and how much she cared for me to be brought up a good person more than any mother would like her child to be! She wrote about the agonizing pain a cancer patient would suffer in spite of best treatment accorded, and wondered how it would be for those unfortunate people who can not administer the right treatment for reasons like economical or others. She wished me to be a good child for my father fitting into the highest moral and ethical standards in life and in the future, study medicine, especially the branch of medicine that will enable me to serve cancer patients of my time. I still hold that letter as the most priced object of possession in my life, dearest to my chest and think how affectionate but desperate she would have been when she wrote it for me and what all thoughts would have crossed her mind when she knew one day eventually I will read it first time! She also knew perhaps, as a man I will earn everything I need in life, but will fall short of love and care a mother alone could provide for.

After the untimely loss of my mother, my father did not re-marry though he was young. He put me in the best city school and I stayed in hostels from the age of seven. I went on to get good credits in school and college. After my science graduation, I joined the Madras Medical College and took my M.B.B.S followed by M D in General Medicine. I have achieved all these with a high amount of dedication and discipline in life. I have opted for Super specialization in Oncology so that I could truly fulfill the ambition of my departed mother. Now I have joined the 'Adyar Cancer Research Institute' in Madras - India where I work for the care of Cancer patients exactly as my mother wished. Each patient whom I visit every day and administer medical attention to the best of my ability gives me extreme satisfaction and I dedicate this true contentment at the feet of my mother forever.

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# 8. A tear drop

Poem By Priya Rajendran

_A daughter portrays her mother's emotions on her brother's return back home after 4 years away.  
_   
Far into space, the plane had vanished  
Four long years, my heart had cherished  
Memories of a toddler, a bundle of joy  
Images of laughter, pictures of my boy  
Danced in front of my eyes  
As I waited looking at the skies.  
I stood behind the gates  
Searching for that familiar face  
Behold a mother's longest wait.  
There appeared that charming face  
Waving his arms, smiling with his eyes.  
All that I felt, all that I could say  
All of my prayers were answered today.  
With just one drop running down my cheek  
I expressed all my love as he bowed to touch my feet.

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For the hand that rock the cradle is the hand that rules the world

\- William Ross Wallace

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 9. A silent victim of love

By B. Siva Sankar

To keep her children from suffering because of the smoke from the mud stoves in the kitchen, she took it upon herself to suffer behind closed doors, leading to breathing difficulties, asthma, and eventually death. A touching story of a mother who became her own silent victim of love, written by her son, who salutes his mother for her unconditional love.

I must have been about five years of age and my mother about thirty five years old around the year 1965. I lived with my family in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh, India.

In those days, getting a gas connection is a rare phenomenon and almost unheard of. The main source of heat for cooking was firewood, and the kitchens were normally filled with smoke from the mud stoves and the burning wood. Another common factor those days was the joint family system in India, where more than one generation of a family lived and ate together. This would often include aged parents, their children, often more than one, with their wives, children, and sometimes their children's children. Like most other families in those days, our family was also very large with almost 15 people eating home cooked food three times every day.

My mother was the only person at home who had to cook food for all the fifteen. And she had to cook with firewood on mud stoves, often spending almost the entire day in the kitchen, ensuring that all of us had good, hot, tasty food at the right time. The smoke generated by the firewood in the kitchen used to be unbearable, and would lead to burning sensation in the eyes even for those of us who were not in the kitchen. When we children shout due to burning of our eyes, my mother used to close the doors of the kitchen so that our eyes don't burn not caring for the Carbon dioxide that she would be inhaling and her own burning of eyes!!!

This continued over the years till she was completely bed ridden due to asthma and could not breath properly. In those days there was not even adequate treatment for this condition. My beloved mother died early at the age of 45 due to this!!!

I still feel very guilty for this since I was also one of those kids who used to ask our mother to close the door of the kitchen!!!

I salute my mother who has sacrificed almost everything for her children, including all her days, all her health, and all her life itself. All her children have grown up and become successful individuals in their own spheres of life. What we are today is because of her pure love and selfless affection!!!

I LOVE YOU AMMA!!!

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# 10. Patricia's lullaby

By Luisa Bernabe

A heart rendering story set in the Philippines, written by the daughter of a mother who braved her fight against cancer, and in spite of all the difficulties she faced, led her children in a path they would cherish forever. A loving mother who told her daughter while on her death bed "I wouldn't have wanted my life any other way.

"Ninna nanna.Gesu pio.Ninna nanna.Gesu buono.d'alontano scendi un suono..come d'arpe tremoglio.."

Ever since my brain was able to process words, sounds and sight, my mother's soothing voice as she would sing me the lullaby in Italian language has etched its mark deeply in my being. I am a Filipino and to hear a foreign language since birth has opened my mind to endless possibilities in communications. My mother is a Filipino also but having spent her years as a nun in Sicily, Italy made her learn the Italian language aside from Latin and Spanish.

Yes, my mother was a nun. Right after she graduated from the University of the Philippines obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Communications, she entered the convent. It was when she got sick in Italy that she was temporarily given a dispensation and went home to the Philippines. The year was 1971 and the country was in turmoil under the Marcos' presidency. She was teaching in a Catholic School in Batangas City and was involved in the youth activists' group. Being a good writer of propagandas, speeches and manifestos, she was tapped to lead the committee involved in information dissemination through write-ups and posters. Initially, she protested saying that her hands may be able to write cohesive thoughts but they were not capable of even drawing a face. The priest in charge of the organization assured her that somebody from the national level will be sent to assist her. All that she had to do was to create emphatic messages and the artist would be the one to put them into frame. Having been assured, she acquiesced.

And that was how she met this young, idealistic man, 11 years her junior. They worked well together in spite of the age gap -both having a progressive mind. Their passion to the cause of the farmers, mothers, women, co-activists, welfare of the Filipino people - especially those who were abused, oppressed and exploited saw them falling in love with each other amidst the floods in Siniloan, Laguna, the bombing at Mendiola, the tear-gassing at the streets leading to the US Embassy and in all corners where activism prevailed. They stood together through the ordeal and made the big leap of marrying at the Redemptorist Church in Lipa City on October 25, 1972 despite the disapproval of many not only because of their age difference but also because of the previous state of life of my mother - a nun.

On August 25, 1973, I was born after three days of my mother suffering labor pains. She wrote to me in one of her many letters, that each contraction she would feel, she handled with a smile because she knew that she would finally see me - her first born. She gave birth to me under the care of a midwife right inside our house on the very same bed where she gave birth to my three other siblings years after.

My mother and I have developed a certain bond. At a very young age, I could see through her pain and worries. Together, we faced on every problem that came our way. Where I was, there she would be and vice versa. Until this day, I can never forget the look in her face when she would watch me practice the song "Looking Through the Eyes of Love" in preparation of a singing contest when I was 13 years old. As I write this, her face remains fresh in my mind as she beamed at me with pride the very moment I was singing my piece during the contest. I may not have won any medal or trophy from that event, but I carry in my heart my mother's smile untarnished and made even clearer in my memory during the passage of time.

My mother was a prolific writer. I grew up with people knocking our doors asking her to write declamation and oratorical pieces. Most of these pieces have contributed to the triumph of the speakers in district, regional and national declamation and oratorical contests. Other professionals also would come to seek her assistance in writing dissertations and theses. It is amazing how she would just sit in front of her typewriter and click away with a myriad of brilliant thoughts without any error. The write-ups would land the hands of those seeking her assistance fresh from the typewriter - no revisions, no error.

Having been a religious nun, she has inculcated in me and my siblings a deep faith in God more so during trials and adversities. She taught us how to pray and keep certain devotions. However, one inspiring trait that she exhibited was her unconditional love for our father and acceptance of all people in spite of their preferences and status in life. I never heard my mother condemning people because of their choice of partners or state of life. Because of this, she was well-loved by many. Our house would be filled with her students and friends seeking solace and advice. Some relatives would also come asking for help with job placement or acceptance in universities. It seems that she was like a doctor or a lawyer - a champion of human angst and aspirations.

In 1995, we were able to work and had our time together in the far-flung municipality of Batangas - Lobo. Lobo is a scenic place with mountains and seas. During afternoons, after our work in school, we would go to the beach and create our own private world staying in the water until late in the evening. There was even a time when we were able to get a secluded place and went skinny dipping! We basked in the moonlight, floating on our backs with the refreshing sound of the waves kissing the shore and the glorious feel of warm water on our skin. It was the moment in our lives as mother and daughter that we were nobody but two giggling women enjoying God's creation. When my father came to the town to stay with her, it was time for me to go back to the city and look after my siblings. I got involved in my causes, too and was away from them for sometime.

Then in the year 2000, August 6 to be exact, my mother was diagnosed of Leukemia. My father was in the Middle East that time and being the only child living with her as my two sisters have already married and my brother was working in another city, we began facing the battle with Cancer. We both accepted the doctor's verdict. I remember sleeping with her, embracing her and caressing her, assuring her that she would make it. At first, the doctor was not too positive about her condition given her age but prayers, positive thinking and a lot of courage made her respond to the initial medication.

During her first blood transfusion, when the hospital's blood bank no longer had her blood type, I donated mine because we had the same. It was my first time to have a syringe inserted into my vein as I have never been hospitalized that time and never even received vaccination when I was a baby. The nervousness I kept at bay because I had my mother's well-being in mind. She asked me to go home and rest after my blood donation and when I came back, joy filled my heart as I saw that her pale and wan face already had color and her lips were so red that I thought for the first time she was wearing lipstick. She smiled at me and said, "Now, I am no longer your mother but your child. Your blood is flowing through my veins."

As the months progressed, we were already lacking of funds for her medication. Even my father no longer went back to working abroad after having gone home because they no longer wanted to be away from each other. Good-will of other people, church groups and her former students would tide us over with her medical expenses.

When we finally reached the point when we already had nothing on hand, my courage ebbed away. I would wake up each morning pretending and hoping that I am on the Twilight Zone. I wanted to wake up with me having the disease and with her being the healthy one. During one of our heart-to-heart talks, I cried profusely as I told her that I wish that she never left the religious life because I knew that her congregation will not run out of goodwill and funds to have her treated by the best doctors in the best hospitals. She simply replied to me, "If I did not leave the convent, I would not have you. I will not have my life any other way."

And so we went on with our private war, living each day as it came. One late morning, as we were doing our daily routine after her breakfast and sponge bath, she confessed. She told me that perhaps the biggest test of faith is when one succumbs to the fear of death and holds on to life afraid of what lies beyond the world of the living. I remember quoting to her, "The darkest moment is always before dawn. Do not fear death. We are in the evening of your life and we'll just pray that when you wake up, you will be face to face with Him in the brilliance of morning."

Ninna nanna.Gesu pio.Ninna nanna.Gesu buono.d'alontano scendi un suono..come d'arpe tremoglio..

My mother heard the trembling sound of the harp from afar and she responded and followed its source.

I toi angeli descesi..di fulgori. Su pra l'alli bianchi stessi su te vogliano che dormi.  
And the angels descended to bring her to sleep.

Exactly two years after the diagnosis, my mother welcomed the "light of a million mornings" with her Creator, just as we had been hoping and praying for that the death of her physical body shall come to her in the form of sleep.

I remember that two days prior to her transcendence, when we were having our breakfast, she began talking in different languages. She said to me, "Perhaps, this is how it is before we die. All the languages that I knew in my lifetime, I would like to cherish in my tongue." I let her blabber in Latin, Spanish and Italian. Indeed, my mother's mind was so lucid that she even finished one book analysis for one of the faithful college students who would come to bring her homework to be done. She herself also encouraged writing jobs because she wanted her mind to keep on working.

My mother Patricia, was - a profound writer, a compassionate soul, a one-of-a-kind teacher, a good friend, a loving wife, daughter and sister. Her memories remain alive within my heart.

I miss her so much and I long for the day when I would see her again and be enfolded in her embrace and smothered by her kisses.

To you, Inay, I celebrate your life. I celebrate the life that we had together forever grateful to God for giving me to you as your daughter. Let me borrow your line - I wouldn't have my life any other way.

I cherish you.. until we meet again!

Ninna nanna.Gesu pio.Ninna nanna.Gesu buono...

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# 11. A lonely mother's struggle

By Rian Abraham

A young mother's lonely struggle in the face of tragedy and early widowhood to bring up her two very young children, to make them what they are today.. young adults prepared to face the challenges of life with confidence and high values.

I would not be the person I am today if not for my mother. She is the most sacrificing person I know, and I can only try to be like her. Sometimes, when people ask the question "Do you wish your parents raised/treated you differently?" I realize I am so lucky that my mother raised me the best possible way.

She was a beautiful and educated young, working woman when she was married off to my dear father. Being city-bred, she could have had it differently, but she respectfully agreed to the man that her father had picked for her, despite their difference in upbringing, since my dad was from a small town. She became the good wife, and later she became a mother to me and my younger brother. Eventually, she played the role of both father and mother to us, since my dad went away to the Gulf (Middle East) to work as geologist in the late 70s. She patiently waited for him to visit us for brief periods, and knew her sacrifices were necessary in order for the kids to have a good life, although it meant that she had to be without her husband, and raise the kids single-handedly, thereby taking up more responsibilities.

Tragedy struck in June, 1984 when my father was killed in an accident in the Gulf. My mother had become a young widow and single mother at the age of 30. I was 6, and my brother had turned 2, just days earlier. She could have lost all hope, but she was strong, and decided that she would live her life for the sake of her children, and raise them to be good, accomplished adults. Often times I would see her crying in the privacy of her room, or looking up at the night sky and I knew she missed my dad, but she would remember her children, and not let herself drown in self-pity. She also had the opportunity to remarry, but never did, choosing instead to focus on her children, and not on her loneliness, and need for love and companionship.

Growing up, I was not the easiest child to handle. I had a lot of anger, thinking that life had been so unfair to me, and often times I would take it out on my mother. I tried to be pretentious in an effort to show my friends that I had it all, and my life was great. Once again, that involved sacrifices from my mother, because she tried to give me everything that all the other kids at school had. She never let me feel like I was missing out on anything. The thing I will remember the most about my mother is that she used to wait outside the school gates sometimes, so she could drive me home. In order that I might have the luxury of sitting in a car, she used to wait in the hot sun for long periods, while ignoring the glances of lecherous men.

Not only was she a wonderful mother, she was also a dedicated daughter to her parents. Her parents had been mistreated by some of their own children, so they could have their share of their inheritance. But my mother who did not get a share, nevertheless remained faithful to her parents till their last breath. She was respectful and obedient to them, and this way set a great example to my brother and me. This also taught us that money isn't everything in this world, don't be greedy, and work hard and carve out your own successes.

Her love of poetry and literature inspired me to read as much as possible. I read everything, posters on a wall, the fine print on packaging, books of varied genres, and every page of the newspaper. This shaped my personality and intellect, as well as become a better student at school. She also installed in her kids the love for God, the hope in prayer, and knowledge of salvation through Christ.

When I decided to move to the United States for my graduate studies and a potential future career, she knew she was going to be separated from her daughter, but she supported me completely in this decision. As always, she was making a sacrifice for the sake of her children. She not only struggled to help me get the required documents, but she also financially supported me as best she could. A few years later when my brother decided to leave for the States, her heart was probably aching, but once again she supported her child even though it meant she was resigned to living a lonely life.

Khalil Gibran once wrote about parents:

You are the bows from which your children  
as living arrows are sent forth.  
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,  
and He bends you with His might  
that His arrows may go swift and far.  
Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;  
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,  
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

I think Gibran could very well have been talking about my mother. She let herself be bent so that her children, the arrows, could reach their mark; even it took them far, far away from her, the bow. Today, my brother and I are both accomplished in our careers, and more importantly we are good Christians. I have never known anyone to make as many sacrifices as she did, and she inspires me every day to be a strong woman.

I am grateful to God for her. I am grateful to my grandparents for having her, their ninth child! And I am grateful to my mother for everything, because I would be nothing without her.

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# 12. Influence of a lifetime

By Alexia Marciano, M.D.

A daughter's story about her mother pursuing her American dream to ensure a great future for her children; enduring all hardships along the way; guiding her children with values that they will cherish throughout their lives.

My mother sacrificed a great deal for many people, including her own parents, her siblings, her relatives, my father, my siblings, her patients, colleagues, friends, strangers, and me. While I am aware of some of the things she has done for others, I know most fully and completely what she has done for me, and that is what I will attempt to summarize here.

My mother grew up in India, amidst poverty and suffering, where most people lived as either Hindus or Muslims. Through the grace and divine plan of God, she came to know Jesus Christ at an early age, and developed a strong faith in God. It was her introduction and sharing of Jesus to me, that is by far the greatest gift and thing she has done for me.

My mother's father died when she was a teenager, and this caused great hardship on their family, as her mother was very young, and she had several younger siblings. My mother helped her family in many ways, and still completed her education, becoming a physician and winning numerous awards for academic excellence. She then met my father. They married shortly thereafter, and came to America to improve their lives. This was a difficult transition, and while I could never understand all that was involved, I know it required great effort on her part, to secure the opportunity to even come to this country, to stay here, to establish a job, home and life here, not knowing anyone. She and my father were not able to come together to America, and she had to come first. While in America, alone, she discovered she was pregnant with me, and fortunately my father was able to arrive here before I was born.

They had a difficult life. However, as I was growing up, my mother often spoke of her faith in God, which always guided and sustained her. I heard about how she fell on the ice and broke her back when I was only 3 months old, requiring months in a full body cast. They faced deportation when my sister and I were babies, because of their visa status, however because of my mother's ingenuity, she got to meet with and explain their situation to their Congressional Representative, and a special bill was passed just for them, enabling them to stay permanently, and later both become naturalized citizens.

My mother told me that she always dreamed of coming to America and making a better life, not necessarily for herself, but for her children. This was long before she was even married. My mother is a very goal oriented, determined person. She dedicated her life to the betterment of the lives of her children, and committed to this, long before she even knew us. Every thought, action, decision and choice she has made her entire life, was done for the benefit and in the best interests of her children. This has been the consistent theme of her life. She did and gave everything she knew to provide the best opportunities, experiences and lives, for me, and my brother and sister. There was nothing more important to her than this.

It was because of my mother's dedication and sacrifices, that I have experienced a very full and enriched life, overflowing with feelings of love, confidence, security, material possessions, and opportunities, including the highest of educational achievements. My mother has provided her guidance, support and direction, throughout my years of development, college, medical school, residency and adult life.

I am very grateful to my mother for all that she has done for me. There are no words to adequately express my love and gratitude for her. While I am forever indebted to her for all that she has done for me, without which I would not have the life I have today, I am most grateful for all that she told me about Jesus Christ and all that she did to expose me to His wonderful love for me. This is the greatest gift because it has enabled me to know Him, to live my life for Him, and be assured of a home in heaven with both of my parents for eternity.

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# _All mothers are rich when they love their children. There are no poor mothers, no ugly ones, and no old ones._

# _Their love is always the most beautiful of joys._

# _Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949)_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 13. My amazing wonderful mother!

By Robert Mangeri

The story of a mother who is her son's best friend, first confidant, and source of inspiration; who always bring a smile to his face whenever he thinks of her.

My Mom is Gail Mangeri. She is probably the one responsible for offering me the first glimpse of the beauty of the Love of Christ in my life as a small child. Today she is certainly and still one of the first people that I look to as a constant beacon and example of the light of Christ!

I have 7 brothers and sisters. Growing up in a very large family, we often faced difficult times. We were always carried through lovingly as a family by a powerful and loving God! I have no difficulty recalling the power of God's amazing provision for his children, because it continues all the stronger today. What I also remember very clearly is my mother's faithfulness through all of those times.

On one particular day my mother grieved briefly. She had gone through the food cupboards of the house that day and found them to be empty and couldn't bear the thought of her children whom she loved going hungry. My mother then responded in faith. She worshipped the Lord and thanked Him for always providing for us! Then she got on her knees and asked the Lord to provide again as He always had. She remembered the verse where the Lord mentioned that "none of mine would ever go hungry." Moments later, it seems to me, there was a knock on the door with people holding large boxes of food who had responded to an urging of the Holy Spirit to bring it. This type of thing was not uncommon. On another day, years later, a friend of the family was in need. This person had a tumor that had been growing rapidly and he was very afraid. The tumor was on his head and he came to my parents for prayer. My mother felt an unshakeable urging to ask for healing right there as they prayed. She anointed the man's head with oil and told me that the Holy Spirit came powerfully upon her and spoke through her in authority. The man was healed.

My mother is also the person who first brought music into my life. She had received the gift of musical ability very early in life and actually attracted professional attention for it. She sang in several states with a band and an agent before she was 20 years old and found herself in a situation where she was being rapidly promoted to the public. She and others have told me that two of the largest magazines and newspapers covering musical artists were scheduling to interview her in a large move that her agent made. My mom didn't know if musical fame was what God wanted for her so she prayed. She asked in that moment that either the interviewers would be blown away and that God would be exalted highly through her fame and music or that He would take it all away. She woke up the next day after praying with no voice. She was examined twice and was told not to sing for 6 months.

Since that time my mother began to receive music from the Lord. She received her voice back and sang for the Lord. I was raised with this music, and I still think my mother is the best musician that I know of. Today I always have to stop whenever I hear her pick up a guitar, and I hope that she will begin worshipping the Lord in song.

My mother is also one of my best friends. She was probably my first confidant and one of my primary encouragers in life. I have deep respect for my mother as a powerful woman of God. She is also my buddy. I enjoy encouraging her in return because she so readily and deeply appreciates other people.

There are a million other things I can say about my mom, and I'm not sure just yet how to put them into words. I can say one thing though, every time I think of my mom I can't help but smile.

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# The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new

# Rajneesh

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 14. Mother

Poems By Adi M. Tarmaster

A mother is identified as Goodness personified by the poet.

MOTHER – Goodness Personified

She is beautiful, she is fine

She is sublime, she is divine

She is the virtual epitome of kindness

She is humane and full of goodness

She is faultless, she is strong

She chides and corrects me when I am wrong

She caresses and comforts me when I am sad

And feels very elated when I am glad

She looks after me in sickness and in sorrow

She knows all my needs of the day and morrow

She is an angel, she is God's blessing

I would feel totally lost in her passing

She cares for me and loves me truly

I am sure to me she is devoted fully

For her there is no pain, nothing is a bother

She is goodness personified

She is my MOTHER.

MOTHER – A portrait

Here's a portrait of my mother

See how all the wrinkles show

Notice the silver halo crown here

She has grown old, you know.

See how the colors reflect

Her patient and tender care

See her eyes twinkle with joy & sorrow

Just as life had put them there.

What is missing in the picture

Are the years of sacrifice

So valiantly made for others

And never asking for the price.

She is no more now alive

On her life has set the sun

But with no regrets she has gone

For her task was completely done.

I call this portrait simply 'MOTHER'

For all the world will understand

She brought a smile when she was alive

And so she now rests in God's hand.

#

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# 15. Mother & The Sunset

By Col (Ms) Almas Bano

Two poems expressing the poet's love for mother, looking back at the early days of life, and then to a life without mother.

MUMMY

Mummy,

know not weather the world existed.

I am here because you brought me into this world.

time never stands and life goes on

so many faces I see, so many people I meet

but I shall never forget you were,

where it all began from,

without you it doesn't start,

without you there would be no world for me

without you there is no one .

Mummy,

you are special

because you helped me to overcome my fears,

healed my hurt and kissed my tears

ma, you held me closely through all the difficult and happy years

loved me -- come what may

Mummy,

you are my life's richest treasure

that money cannot measure

for your love--is truly a gift from above

and today if anybody asked me

where is heaven?

I would say --- in my MOTHER'S warm comforting hugs.

To the world you are my mother

To me you are my world.

My next poem is about time after my mother's demise

THE SUNSET

knock on the door

I did hear--- is that you ma?

my emotions stirred,

exhilaration seeping through

hopes came alive

thoughts unborn took birth

door long shut made way

and I opened the door, found a long road

of loneliness ahead.

knock on the door

was it reality or was it my heart beat

which made me realize once again

I am alone.

MA,

you will never come

you will never knock on the door

as you have slipped into heaven's door and

In deep slumber .up above.

you are in peace, perhaps a star,

gazing at me,

with gentle laughing eyes.

#

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# 16. Mother's the word

By Eisha Sarkar

Her mother was not ordinary, nothing about her is either. With doses of humour she keeps spirits high. Her mom was an extraordinary achiever, who definitely was her daughter's best friend.

I don't have a sad story to tell. I got married last month and for the first time in my life, I've had to live away from my mother, Sujata. I didn't shed a tear the day I saw her board the train, leaving me behind in a new city with a new family - my in-laws. I told myself I shouldn't cry. And I didn't because she didn't. She just smiled as she bid me farewell from the door. The effort behind that smile wasn't ordinary. Nothing about her is really; certainly not her strength.

If raising two kids in a middle class family in India wasn't tough enough, mom decided to move out of her role of a homemaker to teach schoolchildren. At the age of 34, she would take a public transport bus along a potholed road (that was quite a ride!) to a remote school to teach differently-abled children. She brought a smile to their faces when she alighted from the bus each morning and walked to her class. The smiles weren't any different from what my brother and I had on our faces when we would come home from school everyday to find her waiting to hear what we'd been doing all day.

What I have inherited from my mother, apart from her genes, is her sense of humour. It is what gives her strength and makes her the person she is. She wears it like the sacred gold necklace that most Indian wives wear. She uses it well to haggle with a vendor over the prices of vegetables. She laces it with sarcasm as she fends off a persuasive salesman or telemarketer ("Yes, I need a credit card. Can you please put in some cash as well in my account? That would be really nice of you," she says.). She spices it up with just the right dose of gossip to make a boring conversation interesting. And she caresses me with it to brighten up a really dull day.

My mom is an extraordinary achiever, though she's led a rather ordinary life. She aced in studies but didn't take up a career because she wanted to devote her time to her two kids. Once she knew we were well-grounded, she took to teaching. She would have done well if she had taken up a government or a high-profile corporate job too. I could never understand why she didn't. Maybe because of the satisfaction she got out of teaching. I met some of her students recently who remember her long after she'd stopped teaching them. She had taught them the alphabet. How could they ever forget her?

Once I had asked her, "You've been such a good student. But you haven't put it to much use. What have you achieved?" She just smiled and said, "You and your brother."

I wouldn't have been a writer if it wouldn't have been for her. If she hadn't accidentally discovered it, she would have never known my secret love for journalism. I didn't have the confidence to write publicly. She gave me the confidence and the reason to write ("Write what you would want to read and then think of others," she had said.)

My school principal had once advised, "Treat your best friend as your mother and treat your mother as your best friend." Fortunately, I haven't known any better.

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# 17. Life teaches

By Rajni Singh

A daughter's story about her mother enduring hardships and taking bold decision early on in life, which would go on to shape the destiny of her family.

It was year 1964, when my mother Dr. Bimala Singh had delivered her first child, my elder brother. At that time my father (late B.K. Singh) who was involved in politics had to loose his job and was sent to jail for causing strike in his company. My grandfather was the only one who was taking care of the entire family of 3 young girls, my aunt, my grand mom, my two uncles and my mother with a new born kid, my brother. For such a big family, one single earning was insufficient and one day my grandfather broke and reacted to my mom by saying, that he cannot buy costly baby food for the new born..........that day was a turning point in my mother's life.

Since she was educated and was a topper in Political Science while in college, she thought of joining any job that came her way. She was helped by her mentor with a job, but the main hurdle was that she would have to leave her house to move to another city. My mom stood brave, asked for permission from my father, and with her new born son, left for Gaya, where she had to join as Lecturer, Political Science. This was a temporary job, but still she did it as she was in need of money. The life ahead was not at all simple for my mom. She had to leave her few months old son on governors for work. Days passed with struggle, my mom was offered permanency in job. My elder sister came to world and after few years me too. My father in the mean time was given back his job. But he could not leave his family in Ranchi. In India it is commonly the responsibility of son to take care of his family including parents. My father remained in Ranchi and my mom in Gaya with 3 kids.

Life for my mother was a struggle throughout, a journey which made her strong and confident. It is rightly said that 'Life teaches'. My mom, being intelligent, got promoted as Head of department and then was made principal of the college in 1980. Now she has retired and is living a peaceful life, but whenever she looks back, which is more often, her struggle gives her and me a confidence to live life with self respect and confidence.

#

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# 18. The beauty of nature

By Gina Susan John

In this story with a difference, a daughter goes through emotions and feelings during the birth of her child, which she relates to what her mother may have gone through in the past..

Scientists in the past & present have immensely contributed to the understanding of our environment and will continue to do so. The list is aplenty of the great men & women who have sacrificed their entire life with the sole aim to crack the mysteries of nature. Man has grown from discovery of these mysteries to invention over the spans of many generations so much so as to attempt the unthinkable godly act- cloning. What was once considered to be a creation of God has now become an act of man!!

However, one such gift of god that has not been tampered with to date (except for the movie"9 Months"), is the gift of motherhood. Men have proved their mettle over women in many but for one right – the right to give birth. This amazing gift of God completes the 'Circle of Life'. Well, all this philosophy never occurred to me as a youngster. Like every other brat, I took my mother for granted and hardly acknowledged her.

Today, as a mother of a 4 yr old, I understand the concept of motherhood from a totally different perspective. Till yesterday, what was acceptable to do and beyond my understanding–not help my mother, not appreciate her, not understand her concerns- has now made more sense than before.

Since the time I got pregnant (after a year and half of my marriage), the concept of motherhood had engulfed my thoughts a million times. I was very much intrigued by the fact that all women actually have the capacity to create a human being in all its beauty. No doubt, we give credit to the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and..... for the idea but the fact that we bear the pain for the bundle of joy assumes less weight-age when compared to the end result.

Like all pregnant women, I was hooked to all the books on pregnancy but more exciting was to feel and hear the movement of my little one in my belly. No doubt, I made the most of my pregnancy- getting pampered by my family for all the little & big things-which added some flavor to it. I remember waking my husband way past mid-night to bring something for me to eat as I got hungry by then.

I wouldn't mind waiting for more than an hour to meet my gynecologist for my monthly check-ups just to hear the heart-beat machine come to life with nevu's (my son) heart beat. That was my first conversation with him. I would ask him," Are you alright?"," Did you like the ice-cream I had yesterday? ""Do you like carrots or apples?" and he would answer in monosyllables through the machine. I am sure the men will have a laugh over what I just said but surely not the women coz they understand the feeling. Just as much it sounds exciting, it was a bit scary!

I crossed my 1st trimester and we planned a trip to Dehradun from Noida by road. I checked with my doc if it was ok and she was absolutely cool. We were 2 families and we had lots of fun as we drove up the hill-station. We decided to have breakfast and leave the next morning. As planned, we started the drive down after the breakfast. My intuition told me something wrong was going to happen and as we came down the hill, I started to throw up!! Well, though it was just a normal situation, my pregnancy made me think twice as to whether there was any impact on my little one? Was it an indication of some sort and the like? Luckily, my fears were baseless.

As my belly grew bigger, I started talking to my little one and sang songs for him. Yes, the bonding between the child and the mother is rather somewhat special! Nothing in the world can come closer to that. I started to feel his movements more often with the months passing by. The feeling is incomparable! When I used to read the Bible at night, I would rest the Bible on my belly and I could actually see the baby kicking it. My! my! Those were some of the exciting moments with my little nevu.

I made no mistake in my food habits, had nutritious food at regular intervals, went for evening walks, read books on pregnancy, looked up the net for latest news and last but not the least even started to look up possible names for our child. Since we were in India and the law of the land is that we are not allowed to determine the sex of the child, we had to hunt for names of both genders. Ha-ha-ha! It was so hilarious because every name that we would come up with would have a precedent. And as a matter of fact, my dad was convinced that we knew the sex of the child and more so that it was a girl! Now, how he came to that conclusion is something that only my dad can answer.

As the days sped by, I was gaining weight by the week and by the 9th month; I looked as if I had a huge watermelon tucked under my dress. The countdown had begun. My doctor told me to control my diet and not gain any more weight lest my delivery should be a problem. For the 1st time in my life, I started to puff and pant as I climbed stairs. I had to take breaks while walking long distances and even my sleep was an exercise by itself. Was it all worth the effort?.....I asked myself.....

Well, the answer was yet to be revealed but nonetheless I prayed quite fervently that everything should go smoothly. My due date was 10th Dec and till 8th, there were no signs of my little one popping out. On 9th early morning at 4.30 am, I felt some discomfort after going to the loo. My heart skipped a beat. Was this the day that I was so eagerly looking forward for the past 10 months????? Well, honestly I was not sure. I kept asking myself a million questions at that time. I prayed to god and asked him that if the pain persists till 5.00 am, it would be His (God's) indication that, yes it was time for my baby to come out.

Well, as expected the pain continued (they were my 1st contractions) and I didn't realize it till later. At 5.00am, I called my doctor and asked her what to do. She told me to be patient and go to the hospital at 6.00 am while she arranges for the assistant doctor to examine me. I woke my parents up and my mom kept insisting that I needed to wait for some more time. Well, I had run out of patience by then and told them to take me to the hospital. Actually, Saju (my husband) was supposed to land in Madras that morning but he missed the flight the previous night and had to come by bus. The bus got delayed on the road for some reason and he managed to reach me at the hospital only past 9 am.

By then I was in the labour room and I persisted with my "delivery efforts" till noon. Finally my doctor came for a check up at 2.00 pm and did the needful. In 8 minutes, I felt some flabby material come out! So I was positive that it was my baby but I couldn't hear the baby's sounds and couldn't see the baby as well. I was noticing the Gynecologist and her face changed as soon as she saw the baby and rushed the nurse to the waiting pediatrician outside the labour room.

I instantly knew something went wrong. But I calmly asked the doctor what is the sex of the baby (just to have a sense of the situation) and she replied that she didn't notice. By then I was convinced that something was terribly wrong with my little one. "Good Lord!!! What happened to my poor child? Suddenly my delivery pains vanished and I just crashed into my bed as I didn't have an atom of energy left in me. I tried to be strong but couldn't help wondering what went wrong. The doctors were tense. After 15 min, I heard the 1st sounds of my baby. My eyes swell with tears as I heard my baby wailing. "Thank God, the baby is alive. Please God; nothing should go wrong with my baby."

After a few more minutes, they finally brought the baby to me and showed him to me. The nurses helped me hold him and then wheeled me out of the ward. The doctors still didn't tell me what went wrong. Finally, I saw Saju on my way out and told him to find out. He was taken aback but managed to put a brave face. He quickly rushed to my Gynecologist and asked her for a status. She simply replied with a grave face "Please speak to the pediatrician". He started to panic. He went straight to the pediatrician and asked him. His reply was "He is serious but out of danger". Saju almost fainted!! Saju persisted," Can you please explain doctor?" He explained how Nevu's lungs were filled with muconium which happened when he was in the womb itself. This literally turned him green and he was unable to breathe when he was born. So they had to physically insert a tube into his lungs to extract all the muconium before he could breathe. (This explains why I didn't hear him cry for the 1st few minutes).

Within minutes of his birth, he was rushed to the Infant's Nursery for observation. It was my little fellow's 1st experience with Anti-biotic as well. Before I could feel his tiny hands & feet, it was pricked with needles carrying anti-biotic. They had to clear his lungs before any complication. When I heard this for the 1st time, I couldn't register what happened!!! I was speechless when I realized that I could have lost my baby had it not been for God's grace and timely assistance of the pediatrician. I couldn't bear to think that again!

I am sure people reading this story felt at least few of the pains that I experienced as a mother. Be rest assured, the rest of Nevu story's was not this painful. It has been a smooth ride since and we are so proud of our little fellow. He's has been an amazing child and has surprised us with his wonderful talents. He recently got flying marks in a scholarship exam which I hadn't even dreamt of when I was his age!!!! But my role as a Mother has taught me to respect my mother all the more, to value her and appreciate her more often. No denying, I was my daddy's little angel and still am but my mom holds a special place in my heart as well.

Life will continue to be as beautiful but the beauty of nature can never be described ever in a few words. Motherhood is the ultimate beauty of nature!

#

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# 19. The hand that rocks the cradle

By Archana Kamath

Her mother had to endure extreme hardships especially with her father working abroad earning a livelihood. Through days and nights the mother dispelled unconditional love to her daughter.

The word mother invokes a feeling of pure selfless love and supreme sacrifice.

It is said that when the Almighty God wanted to prove his existence, he created mothers. So, mothers are next only to God. It is this divinity which brings out the best unconditional love, care and sacrifice in a mother. Hence, we cannot repay her deeds showered on us during our lifetime.

Well, I am an 18 year old girl and my name is Archana. I live in India in the suburbs of Mumbai. When I was a small child around three years of age, I used to live alone with my mom who was in her early thirties and a working woman in those days. My father was working abroad at that time. Today I understand how difficult it would have been for my mom to manage both her office and home especially when she didn't have any emotional and moral support to fall on. As I used to stay in day care crèche during the day, perhaps returning to a home where only the two of us would spend the nights made me throw tantrums at times. She used to find it difficult to manage me and then cook for the night meals along with other domestic work that had to be done. Today I realize the stress and mental trauma she underwent during those days. During office hours, she used to worry about my safety as there was no family member whom she could count on in case of an emergency.

Once, the lady at the crèche decided to take the children out without informing the parents. Today I imagine what her condition could have been and the worry and stress she faced for nearly three hours is a situation no parent should undergo during their lifetime.

When I used to be sick with high fever, she suffered intensely as she had to run around going to the doctors, waiting in endless queues and then tending to me. Once, the doctor told my mom to monitor my fever and advised her to see that my fever never went beyond 102 degrees. As it was night time, my mom used to be tired after a hard days work. But afraid that she would fall asleep, she kept the clock alarm at every one hour interval so that she could get up and see whether my fever had subsided. She sacrificed her sleep for my wellbeing so that nothing untoward happened to me. Of course all mothers sacrifice for their children but what distinguished my mom apart was the hard times she underwent managing me and office single handedly. But thankfully, after Dad's return, she was relieved of most of her worries. It is only now as grownups, we realize that no amount of gratitude can repay the sacrifice of our MOTHERS.

And above all the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, the hand that is the epitome of pure selfless and unconditional love.

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# 20. Looking at mother !

By Dr. Kiran Bala

A poem about how weak mother has become, where each day is a struggle. Would tomorrow be better?

Three in the morning I am awake

Look at the mom who is seventy- eight.

Her face is blank and dull too

Eyes are searching may be something to do

There is some hope of life ahead

Thinks always of what is dead

Years to come

And tears to go

No one cares

But the hope is there

She calls the servant

To help her walk

Then gets little yelling

And cannot talk

Her limbs are weak and jittery too

Hands are trembling and looking goo!

There is a desire to live some more

But knees are sore and reflexes gone

Gone are days when she read a lot

Wrote many stanzas and students taught

Now she is learning to live alone

Heart filled with sorrow and nowhere to go.

And it is end of day!

Tomorrow perhaps

You will wake up again

Find new life

And have another day.

#

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# 21. Happy birthday mother

By Nisha Dias

A poem dedicated to an amazingly selfless & loving mother/grandmother Mrs. Tara Bhargava on her 75th Birthday from her 5 children & 10 grandchildren. Mrs. Tara Bhargava lives in Agra, India with her husband Mr. B. D. Bhargava.

HAPPY 75th BIRTHDAY DEAREST MOM !!!  
We looked really hard, and still did not find,  
A mom like you, you are truly ONE of a kind!  
Pampering for decades, us your five children,  
Now also doting, on our spouses & our children.  
An absolutely wonderful wife you have been,  
Your dedication and loyalty has to be seen!  
You have toiled very hard for many a years,  
To give us the very best, without any tears!  
Through times happy, and times sad,  
You made sure everything, we still had.  
From early in the morning, to late at night,  
You would be working, without rest at sight!  
To give us each, warm home cooked meals,  
Cleaning and washing, with no help appeals!  
Sewing was one of your favorite passions,  
You could sew even the latest fashions!  
You would be stitching away all day,  
Clothes for our school or just for play.  
Even boys and men's clothes, you could easily manage,  
Expert you were at girls' pretty dresses, whatever the age.  
You found time to also be active in the community,  
Being involved with the LIC Womens' Committee.  
You organized events that were always a good sell,  
Bringing out your talent in music & dance as well!  
Your cooking is magical even to this date,  
We just can't help, licking up from our plate!  
From Kachoris & laddoos & Samosas galore,  
Our tummy may be full, yet we ask for more!  
In your praise, we could go on and on,  
You could be reading from dusk to dawn!  
Parents ourselves, we all are by now,  
And, sincerely bend our head in a bow!  
For raising five kids was not at all an easy feat,  
Highest standards of motherhood you did meet!  
We truly appreciate all that you have done,  
MOM, without doubt you rank number ONE!  
As you celebrate a very special day in your life,  
We THANK YOU for being such a great mom & wife.  
Though we all can't be right there with you today,  
For your long life, health and happiness we pray!  
WE WISH YOU A WONDERFUL 75th BIRTHDAY,  
AND HAPPY & HAPPIER RETURNS OF THE DAY!  
With lots and lots of love, warm hugs and kisses,  
Geeta & Rajesh, Deepa & Ramu, Meenu & Sunil, Hemant & Deepali, Nishi & Augi  
Along with  
Arpit, Ankit, Pallavi, Radhika, Karan, Utsav, Pranav, Mallika, Neha & Aditya

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# _All mothers are rich when they love their children. There are no poor mothers, no ugly ones, no old ones. Their love is always the most beautiful of joys._

# _Maurice Maeterlinck (1862-1949)_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 22. Mother – God's representative on earth

By Renuka Khanna

A daughter's tribute to her mother in Mumbai – India, who has been there for her through good times and bad, not only touching her life in a special way, but also that of her children, putting them on the right path of life.

It's rightly said when god could not be every where for his children he thought of making mothers. My mother herself could not get any motherly love as her mother (my grandmother) died early leaving behind 5 children. My mother being the eldest was only eight years old.

Her life was not easy, but she always says that God compensated her in a big way by giving her a good husband and lovely children. She is always there for us. It was my mother who supported me when I separated from my husband and came back home with my two daughters. It was my mother who helped me in my taking up a career. it was my mother who supported me financially whenever I had some financial difficulties, and it is today because of my mother that one of my daughter Esha is flying for an international airline and the younger one is pursuing computer engineering.

I shiver to think what my life would have been without her. I know I cannot be such a mother for my daughters. I hope I can take care of her in her old age. I wish my mother a very long and healthy life.

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A mother's love is patient and forgiving when all other are forsaking, it never fails falters, even tough the heart is breaking

Helen Rice

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 23. Following her words of wisdom

By Usha Rao

She describes her mother as kindness and patience personified - someone whose values in life were astounding.

Thinking about mothers touches the deepest being of our heart. I am Usha Rao, 51 years old belonging to the state of Andhra Pradesh in India, a family of 9 children and parents. Not a day goes by without remembering my mother.

Her name was Radha, she was born in 1924, went to college which was quite uncommon for women of those days. I remember my mother as a repository of so many noble qualities and she has been my living inspiration. She was my first teacher and she was also a teacher by profession. She taught many poor students without taking any fee. She was kindness and patience personified. Taught us that we must always remember what we receive from others but forget what we give to others. She said never forget the kindness and love and help you receive others but when it is your turn to do so, just give and forget. Never allow any ego to consume you but feel grateful that almighty gave an opportunity to serve others.

I was 20 years old, when her health deteriorated with cancer. There were so many painful and tough moments that we had seen her go through, not having enough resources to buy medicines, but the noble mother was so uncomplaining. She taught us to always offer unconditional love and forgiveness.

_There are a couple of incidents which left an indelible impression on my heart. My mother was very gentle, enduring and very accepting of_ others. At _times when I showed lot of unhappiness about others' behaviour, she would calmly tell me that 'what cannot be cured must be endured'. She worked as the head of English department in the same convent where I studied. My mother was very talented. She would compose poems, songs, set tunes and teach children. She played violin beautifully. Though her talent did not receive much attention at home, she never cribbed about it. I distinctly remember following my mother to church on Sundays along with the sisters of the convent. She played violin while the choir sang. We are Hindus, but my mother never discussed religion. She found great happiness when she played the instrument in the church and said she connects to God with her music and found it greatly healing._

_Her wisdom had great impact on all her children. We go to the temple as well as the church, many times when I prayed to Infant Jesus by reading novena for 9 hrs for others, the results were amazing. While she was on her death bed too, I prayed to Jesus to give deliverance from her pain, HE DID._

_Like my mother I always advise my children that when in stress, don't eat junk food, but seek shelter in prayer. It heals us. Who can forget such a noble mother who taught us that to serve others we need not belong to any great clubs and organizations but can be silent messengers of God? My mother has set an outstanding example to live life with a spirit of an attitude of gratitude. Our attitude determines our altitude._

We feel a sense of belonging to our mothers. I received immense blessings from her when I got the good chance to render some service while she was in bed. How do I offer my gratitude to such a benevolent mother except by following what she preached us?

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# 24. An opportunity lost

By Meenakshi Bagchi Ganeriwala

A daughter realizes now and regrets the fact that she never had the courage to stand up and acknowledge the hard work her mother put in to bring her up.

I was the eldest girl from simple middle class Indian family: parents and three girls! My mother a primary school teacher, Daddy worked as a class I position Psychologist. Due to extensive problems with management my dad did not draw salary for several months leading to years. Ma was extremely hard working she took up morning school staring at 7:00 AM. Her day started very early, cooking since 5:30 AM. I never had a morning alarm; it was the sound of the grinder, mixer or the sound of spoon on the kadai (cooking utensil) that replaced the alarm clock. She walked down to the school to start at 7:00 AM. At 1:30 noon she would come back, rest barely for some time and start tuitions which would last till late evenings. You may be wondering what is great in this, many parents work hard but what is special and different is how I felt about my mother working so hard.

I use to hide the fact that Ma worked hard, at the bottom of my heart I was so very proud of my mother but, I use to assert among friends and relatives, "Ma does not need to work this hard, she does just for fun, she teaches tuitions so that she can utilize her time and students benefit from her knowledge". Instances when guests came I use to hide the slippers in the inside rooms and ask the students not to make noise so that no one comes to know how many kids Ma is teaching , I often lied with the numbers. I am not sure if I am able to bring out how I felt, it is a weird feeling when you appreciate all the hard work she is putting in for the family yet you cannot do it in front of the others!! You feel kind of embarrassed.

Today I am a forty years old lady with two daughters, yet my mother never might have noticed nor felt about this feeling of mine. As a child whenever I felt like that all I did is gave her a tight hug and asked for forgiveness fighting back tears. But you know what I am proud of is that my girls are not like that. The elder one Sakhi has the courage to stand up and say that "Papa started his career in the USA by working in a cigar shop for $ 4:30 an hour." She is the only one who knows that Dida; as they call their grand- mother worked hard to bring me up. When I was getting married to my childhood love, like many in-laws, they would always say that "the mother of three girls did not have any option but to do tuitions to bring them up". I did not have the courage to fight it out or contradict. I am sorry Ma for not standing up and telling the world how proud I am about you and that your hard work means a million to me. I take this opportunity to thank God for my mother and pray that no child in this world should be without a mother so that every child has the opportunity to be proud of their Mother.

Be proud of your mother and make her feel in front of the whole world that you are proud of her working hard. I missed it but I wish no one should miss it any more!!!

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# 25. Mother – as I know her

By Ashis Kumar Gupta

A son chronicles his mother's journey through life, overcoming traditional obstacles, leaving behind a legacy that her admirers still cherish.

I fervently believe in the saying that "God cannot look after every one, so He created mother" particularly when I peep into the life of my mother and discover her divers faces as a woman of caring, courage, foresightedness and thinking nature.

My mother was born in the year 1913, in a district town of Barisal, East Bengal and married at the age of 13 when my father was a student of law. Naturally, she had to move to our ancestral home at Jaisheerkathi, in rural Bengal to live with a Joint family consisting of seven generations. It was really a challenge to her to adjust in a remote village and in a big joint family as she was darling to her parents and used to live in town. Along with other women of the family, mother had to attend various household works and remain busy from dawn till late night. The annual Durga-Puja of the family was being held with enthusiasms and mother used to wait eagerly for the big event. It was an opportunity for mother to collect latest books on Bengali literatures, magazines etc. from relatives and friends and to keep her abreast of latest political developments.

She did not get opportunity to attend school, as the girls were not sent to school in those days. However, her father did not deprive his daughter from education and taught her Bengali language at home, so that she could read literature and acquire proficiency in it. Thus, she got an opportunity to access the vast arena of Bengali literature, and also translated versions of English literatures. She became an avid reader with an argumentative mind. She used to recite many of Tagore's & others' poems, Sanskrit shlokas (verses) from scriptures etc. flawlessly without referring to the books. She guided us to understand the complicated Bengali literary works of famous writers and in creative writings, till our graduation level. Every body was surprised to see her commendable knowledge on the Ramayana, Mahabharata. She could answer any query on these epics without referring to the books. Mother took her last breath by reciting the shlokas from various scriptures, at the age of 81.

She was a feminist and believed that the education is only weapon for progress of the women, and did not hesitate to be a rebel at the time of sending her daughters to school ignoring the warning of the Joint family. She proved wrong the old thinking that education of a girl was a bad omen for the family. Later on, she moved with my father to Patuakhali, a sub Divisional town, and settled there just to give her children proper education. She had to face a lot of problems from the joint family for this act but nothing could change her decision.

Mother, in order to share her skill in fine arts, stitching, knitting etcher with the needy women she joined 'Patuakhali Mahila Samity' (an association of women) and trained them in using Charkas, looms, embroideries, stencil printing etc. The produces of the Samity were sold at various exhibitions to collect money for the needy women. By her social work she made her presence felt in the small town and sometimes she used to get an opportunity to give lectures in functions when dignitaries visited the town. Her knowledge in literature, oratory power and recitation capability made her a popular speaker in the town. She was appointed as the honorary inspector to oversee women's condition in prison, for sometime.

Mother hailed from a family of freedom fighters used to provide support to the freedom fighters secretly by writing posters, and providing food. One of her cousin brothers, a freedom fighter, one day gave her some revolutionary pamphlets, posters, one big knife, and a revolver for safe custody. The Police got the information and came to our house to search. Realizing the imminent danger ahead, mother insisted on a proper search warrant just to buy some time. She quickly put all the posters and other things in a big 'handi' (vessel) and put them on the flaming oven as if rice was cooking. In addition, she ordered her daughter to hide the knife by throwing it into the branches/leaves of the date tree adjacent to the 1st floor balcony. Mother also quickly hide the revolver in the daily used utensils and submerged those in the backyard pond, as if utensils were to be cleaned. The police made thorough search of the house but could not trace anything though the documents, which they were searching for, were boiling on the oven in front of their eyes. The knife she kept with her as a memorabilia.

After the partition of India, when most of Hindus started fleeing from East Bengal, my parents decided to stay back in the small town. My mother was a worker of Congress Party, a party that was looked with suspicions by the then Pakistan rulers. One evening, a family friends of ours advised my mother to leave the town as early as possible as the Administration was trying to implicate her as a communist, a banned party in Pakistan and if they were successful she may be put behind bars. After a few days, my mother along with my younger sister and me boarded a steamer on our way to Kolkata leaving our father behind. We never disclosed to any one in the town that we are leaving the place forever. As soon as the steamer left the jetty, mother started weeping, first time we saw tears in her eyes. The twinkling lights of the shores were gradually enveloped by darkness and my mother started her journey for an uncertain future. She asked us to salute our motherland for the last time, as we would never return to this place.

My mother reached Kolkata, leaving behind her illustrious life in Patuakhali and put herself into a self imposed shell since then. She never involved herself in cultural or social activities and transformed herself into a struggling mother for the sake of her children. In the absence of regular source of income she had to virtually fight for survival with her children. My elder bother in government service, was under suspension at that time, for his involvement in Trade Union activities. Mother never asked her elder son to compromise his ideology for the comfort of her family. It was a difficult time for her to manage a large family with mostly school/college-going students. Mother consciously decided not to take help from the Government as 'Refugees' a word which mother hated. For survival, in a new country, she took another revolutionary decision by allowing her first two daughters to go outside Kolkata on teaching jobs, which ultimately resulted in boycotting of our family by relatives.

Now when I look back, I feel how difficult it must have been for a woman in those situations of turmoil to adjust. She had all comfort in life a day before but had lost everything overnight. In Kolkata, my mother became just an ordinary face in the crowd with the stigma as 'Refugee', forgetting her illustrious life in East Bengal. She never expressed her sadness or desire to visit her native land.

However, I feel God could feel her pain and that is why on the day her 'Shradh ceremony' (memorial), one of her admires from Patuakhali, in Bangladesh, came to meet her with an invitation to visit Patuakhali. However it was too late. We believe that mother witnessed this incident from her heavenly abode and felt happy that the people of that small town did not forget her.

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# 26. Woman – this is your story

By R G Raheja

A son's tribute that highlights the diverse roles that woman plays in her lifetime seamlessly.

This is the story of a woman, in general as a daughter, housewife or working housewife, as a mother who goes through all these phases of life.

In some parts of India, when a girl is born, it is claimed that Laxmi \- the Goddess of Wealth has stepped into the house. This Nanhi Kali – budding flower, is the apple of the eye of her parents. She leads a carefree life playing with her brothers and sisters and feels comfortable and homely there. In school she has fun with her friends. Everyone adores this lovely doll. When she is of marriageable age she has to suddenly leave this house where she has lived for so many years. She moves to a totally new environment - unknown to her, like a tree uprooted from one soil to be replanted in another. It's a new atmosphere where she has to adjust to a whole lot of new people and make a good impression on them. She has to try her best, so that her future is secure and comfortable in this house where she has to spend the rest of her life. What a sudden change, but then she has to do it; that is tradition.

In her husband's house she has to look after and adjust with her in-laws and other members in the family and look after everyone's needs. When her children are born, her duties increase, as she has to look after their comforts as well. Just remember who held your hand when you took your first step, who dropped you to school, who packed nice things in your school snack box and who got you back from school? It was the same person who nursed you when you were sick or sat late nights pouring over your studies and shared your dreams and sorrows. It was your mother who did all that!

Every mother does all this and also sees to it that everybody gets food in time and that too of their liking. When everybody has taken food, then she eats. Sometimes there is hardly any food left hence she may go to bed half-hungry. If anyone asks her whether she has eaten, she will always say yes. At every stage she makes sacrifices for others.

By the end of the day she is dead tired but she has to get up early the next morning and go through this grind again and again day after day. But does anybody appreciate her work or her dedication? We take her services for granted and never show any gratitude! We pay no attention to her who selflessly serves us daily without expecting anything in return.

When I return home in the evenings and put on the light, I see her photo hanging on the wall. I go down memory lane to the bygone days. She was my lovely rose in this garden of flowers. Is duniya ke bageeche mein mera bhi ek phool tha – in this world's garden, there was also one flower that belonged to me .I was nice to her and she was nice to me and everybody, but she deserved much more than what we gave her. All these things come to mind when she is gone but by then it's too late. Alas, at each step, everyday, you feel her absence. All she needs from you is respect, love and affection. Let us not WITHHOLD it.

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# 27. What I learned from my mother

By Mohanalakshmi Rajkumar

A daughter's tribute to her mother – What she learned in life was God's way of reverse psychology..

I didn't teach my mother anything. But from her I learned how to put myself first to volunteer. That while telling stories you'll feel the narcotic of the audience's attention.

I learned to dress and to dress up.

To have my nails painted, not chipped and cracked.

I learned to be someone who never waited for tomorrow but get it done today, now, immediately. I learned by watching what she left undone. And I vowed never to do the same.

I learned life is hard but you can outlive almost anything - losing your teeth, leaving your daughter, quitting high school. You can live long enough to be right but never have your husband tell you so. You can be proud of your children but sad that they live so far away.

I learned the basic principles that govern how I move in the world, most of them unconsciously.

To always have the bathroom counter clean before guests come - even if it means the cabinets are crammed with toothpaste, saline, cream, your secrets.

To work backwards when giving a party and clean the house first, yourself last.

To decline any compliments, always demurely, while secretly cherishing them.

To notice every slight, no matter how small, real or imagined and discuss them repeatedly, out loud and inside with oneself, feeling the sting over and over again until it is slightly pleasurable.

To be affronted by the world's audacity

To ask nothing of others, only to give

To give more to others than you would to yourself

To show your best face to others, not your spouse

To assume children were a natural part of life and never only delight in them

Romance is not a value to build your life around - that's what novels are for.

In the quiet of an afternoon, it's okay to take a nap.

TV is modern society's gift to the poor.

Learn to cook a few dishes well and fast.

Birthdays are special and mean everyone should get presents - at least until a certain age or until the money runs out.

Drive cautiously and use pillows if you don't have to.

Have some principles you won't compromise.

Never cry, no matter how bad it gets.

Love learning your whole life, even if it means doing your undergraduate one course at time.

Stay home with your grandchildren, if you can, because they will always adore you.

Be proud of your children and let them feel the shining delight in your eyes.

Shop at sales because you'll find (with a lot of patience) the perfect gem others overlooked.

A little dab of powder, lipstick, and nail polish before any party.

Reading can help you live the life you never had.

The library is the best place in the world to go and sit and think (and it's free).

A five dollar pizza can make any night seem special.

Coffee - or Coke in my case - can help you when you're feeling low.

Stand up for yourself because no one else will.

Stand up for your children because otherwise they will despise you.

Never be afraid to ask because no one will ever just give anything to you.

Many of the lessons I learned from my mother were God's idea of reverse psychology. I learned by doing what she left undone or was powerless to do - made so, by my father, by society, by culture.

#

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# 28. Mothers – then and now

By Chaitanya J. Parikh

While narrating his mother's life and achievements, a son highlights the difference between mothers then and now.

My mother was 83 yrs old now, born in 1926 at a village in Mangalore. She was the second of eleven children to her parents, born 10 years after their first child. Her Mother said years ago that she was an outcome of sacrifices done to the family deity. She has within my acquaintances known to have exhibited forbearance, patience, self-control, restraint, and tolerance. Her clan called her the "Women of the Millennium". She graduated as a Medical Doctor in their family, the only one in their community. It was a rare feat that made everyone in their family proud.

It was the era of the India's freedom struggle with poverty at all fronts that she now feels were the inhibitors that they struggled with, but happily overcome due to a cohesive family culture. Her father a government servant retired as a Sirastedar – one who works in the court; drew a meager salary enough to feed him and a part of the family he bore.

During her early life, she was at her village near Mangalore. Her support to the family was the window to the tiny souls that were all around her. They used to look upon her as their embodiment of help, faith and a savior. She used to mirror their heart as her love and faith bore the gauges showing the families fleeting-feelings and expectations

Every women but has always matured more with age. Hence it was then, my mother decided to get married. Though a late marriage, it was a need of that time to create a sense of responsibility. She had the courage to opt for an out-of-caste marriage – a rare circumstances in those days. I can now say, that she became aware that in a lifetime; she is a friend, sister, wife, mother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother; many roles to play. The backdrops are that her roles are only for pleasing everybody in and around her.

Every Indian woman knows that India is an immensely diverse country with many distinct pursuits, vastly disparate convictions, widely divergent culture, customs and veritable feast of view points, land of religion, the country of uncritical faith and unquestioned practices. At an instance of life like this, my mother had to be well versed with the science of anthropology - the study of all aspects of human life and culture. Her anthropological acumen acquired and expressed helped her examine such topics as how people live, what they think, what they like and dislike and in this lay my mother's realm of successes. Adjustment to the core of all aspects, religious courtesies, food habits, etiquette, language, name and surname transition and above all the perspective view that others build and construct in a new environment .

She bore two children, a son and a daughter .Now as mother it is the religious and other family dominant faith the women of that in the family exhibits that makes the family full. She was always faithful. She became one who will consider the family where she lives as her Fiefdom- the estate or domain of her Feudal lord.

But with all the goodness that she exhibited, she still becomes the Nelson's eye of her Maternal home. Her earlier year of support had been forgotten. They all even forgot to give her the modicum of respect that she deserves just for nitwit reasons. Her own people resorted to create ostentatious conditions. This leads to a pandemonium and uproar of unrest in her maternal front. In short acquiring the length of its reach to the strength of her grasp her own people resorted to a lint picking behaviors.

My mother knew that her success as a Family Mother was by way of behaving and bearing she exhibited. She needed to create an opinion or general feeling about something that is pleasing and pleasant within her family.

Hence my mother had has the highest level of Compassion that she expressed in the form of Sympathy, Empathy, Concern Kindness, Consideration and Care. A mother has the quality to express equanimity for all her children. She left no stone untouched to ensure this.

Women in general have a very possessive attitude towards their husbands, children and her maternal side. She expresses a mind-set that is harmless. She can be held back by forces greater than herself; hence she can be hostile and antagonistic, aggressive, intimidating, unfriendly, unreceptive, unsympathetic, argumentative with hostility due to these possessive qualities. So as every life story has a mixture of good and bad, every family has a "gap between the lip and cup". There is always more that what meets the eye. Histories show that every new circumstance has indulged women to fighting warfare, conflict, and aggression. So even with my mother's own daughter-in-law, these qualities have brought humiliation, disgrace, embarrassment; her own daughter-in-law has wrongly indicated this as persecution and discrimination. These I say, are the watchwords of today's women.

An Indian woman today is an Individual maverick an independent thinking feminine that refuses to conform to the accepted views on any subject. She has become unconquerable, strong, determined, stubborn, and has shed all her inhibition, hung-up shyness, embarrassment, self-consciousness, to the world order. She has resorted to give innuendos "an indirect hint" to insubordination, disobedience, defiance unruliness and hence is subjected herself to noncompliance.

Hence the reason to write this story is the two faces of womanhoods exhibited by mothers of today. I still feel the most important aspect of a Mother is the feminine attitude that she shall exhibit. This includes her to be, balmy, mild, clement, pleasant, temperate, gentle, soft approached, an outlook that is modest in mannerism with a supportive stance. Yet she is modern, intelligent, outgoing, upbeat, fashionable and with the times.

Though some of today's mothers think the other way round, my mother expresses herself considering her position in family, and with strong motherly feelings, sentiments and thoughts that considers what the family respects. Mother's way of thinking is mostly positive with action and opinion that are provocative.

Mother, I salute you for that.

#

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# 29. Whatever I am – I owe it to my mother

By Preetha Rengaswamy

A daughter dedicates her life's achievements to her mother who went through various hardships early on in testing times.

My mother 'Is and Will' always be very special to me as it is because of her guidance and perseverance that I am able to write this article to you.

I and my sister were born as fraternal twins. For the initial 3 yrs, I was segregated from my parents and sister and lived with my grand parents, as my mother found it difficult to look after both of us. Due to this separation, I always maintained a distance with my mother and had a feeling that my parents were partial and liked my sister more than me.

I would like to mention an incident which melted my mind. We lived in a remote town in Neyveli which is in Tamil Nadu - India, where in those days public transport was very minimal. When I was 6 years old, I was down with a severe attack of viral fever and became almost unconscious. As the temperature shot up very fast, my mother put me on her shoulder and carried me to the hospital, running all the way for about 4 kilometers as time was precious at that moment. That day being an holiday, nurses were absent and so my mother herself applied ice on me and gave me first aid as per Doctor's advice and my body temperature slowly started decreasing.

Even today, at the age of 41, I still remember the D-Day, I screamed unable to bear the hardships caused due to all the rubbing and injections. My mother stood by my side, without even eating anything until I felt better. I was "touched" by her love and affection for me, and this incident brought about a change in me.

I was initially very weak in studies and so was always discouraged by my teachers and classmates. I was even marked as a dull headed student. Parent-teachers meeting always ended up with teachers blaming me, but my mother replied them with a smile saying "My daughter will definitely come out with flying colors one day".

Yes. My mother achieved her goal. She had forgotten about herself and her only aim was to develop me into a good citizen of India, which she achieved finally.

Now, I am a mother of 2 sons, and am an M.Sc Botany Distinction Post Graduate and a special Educator for Dyslexic children and slow learners. All my qualifications attained in life were made possible because of the strong foundation built by my mother with great difficulty but with extreme determination.

Through this article, I would like to sincerely and whole heartedly 'thank' my mother Mrs. Kausalya Rajan for her great achievement in life.

#

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# 30. Make the most of what you have

Ms. Sony Raheja

A daughter recounts her mother's motto in life that has enabled her overcome all adversities and take on a positive approach.

Most people have the privilege of being with their parents till they are middle age. It's been over 19 years since my Mother passed away, but her sweet memories are still fresh in my mind.

When I think of my Mother - the only image I can see is a well-rounded, large hearted woman with a smiling face staring back at me, full of love and compassion. She was always so full of life and a zest for living which was unparalleled.

She was very simple and down to earth \- a quality which drew people to her like a magnet. She treated everyone equally - irrespective of rich or poor, caste or creed. Many people fondly remember her even today because of these qualities.

Her motto in life was "MAKE THE MOST OF WHAT YOU HAVE". Enjoy the little pleasures of life. She was never demanding though and lived within her means. I remember evenings spent at the beach or in parks, unlike the shopping malls and restaurants where today families spend their weekends. Everyday we came home from school to the welcoming warmth of her love.

We are 4 sisters and one brother. My brother is the youngest. In India, a son is desired to carry on the family lineage. We often joked with Mummy that if my brother was the first-born, we probably wouldn't have been born. I thank my parents for the big loving family that I have.

We lived in a big joint family, full of cousin brothers and sisters. My Mother treated my cousins also like her children, never differentiating between us and them. I have cherished memories of summer vacations spent in different parts of India.

Its surprising how may traits of your parents you pick up consciously or subconsciously. Nothing gives more happiness than knowing that you have some cherished quality of your parents. I picked up my Mother's love for cooking.

My mummy was a diabetic but she never let this affect her. She believed in enjoying life to the fullest and always said "Eat and make merry because who has seen tomorrow". She developed heart problems and suffered a lot during the last year of her life and died at a young age of 53! After her death, I used to blame her bad eating habits for her sudden end and I was very angry with her. But now I realize, at least she enjoyed every moment of her life.

Though we did not get the time to say our good-byes, she came to me once in a dream soon after her death and said "God has sent me for a short holiday, so I cannot stay for long, I just came to meet you". I know Mummy is not physically present but she is always around like a guardian angel that looks after us. After her death, my Father has beautifully played the roles of both Mother and Father.

She may not be in front of me, I may not be able to embrace her loving hands, but she is there somewhere in me!

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31. Our misty mother

By Susmita Das Gupta and Suchismita Das Gupta

Two sisters narrate the story of loss where their mother was taken away from them at a very young age when they could only ask themselves 'why did God do this to us'?

The word mother always gives a feeling of love and affection of a person whole-heartedly dedicated for welfare and security of her children. However, to us "Mother" is an illusion as we cannot remember much about her since God sealed our fate and denied our getting mothers love and affection while we were only 9 and 12 years old.

We have a limited scope to cherish her memories as at that tender age we were not mature enough to understand the true meaning of love and affection of a mother. We always thought that mother's love is perpetual and will be showered on us through out our life. After her marriage, our mother had to lay hand on an unorganized family and tried to impose discipline with some rules at her in-laws house, which had no female members. This was a herculean task for her as some of the members were arrogant and egoistic, and handling them was difficult. It was a challenge for mother to harmonize with such a family and occasionally she had to protest against their attitude and tried to mend them. However, mother was resolute to perform her duties. We always desired that she should spend more time with us instead of attending other domestic work. Now we can only remember that she could not satisfy us in spite of her best efforts due to her hectic daily schedule. After managing the household work and taking care of us, she had to rush to office at a distant place by local trains. In the evening, we used to wait eagerly for her return and to spend time with her. She was very particular in spending the whole evening with us. If she was late to return, we used to become scared particularly if there was an electric power cut rendering us in darkness. Since mother's was having some health issues, she decided to she sent us to a boarding school for betterment of our studies. We knew that she was feeling bad for her decision but always suppressed her feelings.

It is difficult for us to forget the fateful Christmas day of 1980. The whole world was in the festivity mood with lights and music all around but in the backstage God was writing a dark chapter of our life. That day our mother, who was in her mid forties bid adieu to this earthy life and moved towards her heavenly abode leaving behind her children with an identity of 'motherless children'.

Sometimes we feel that mother could have kept us with her instead of sending us to boarding school hostel and could have given us an opportunity to spend more time with her. Our mother was not suffering from any forbearing diseases but for a few months before her death, she was not keeping well and was under medication. We at that young age could not understand the nature of her illness and even our relatives never told us about the seriousness of her illness. Mother continued to perform all her duties as usual. During the winter vacation at school, we went to our grand mother's house to enjoy the holidays. Mother used to visit us every alternate day.

It was a bolt from the blue as God had painted one of the most auspicious days of the world - 25th December as the darkest day in our life by taking our mother away from us. We still fail to understand for whose fault God had punished us and made us motherless children on the day of birth of Jesus Christ. When people around us were in a festive mood, we were pushed to a somber future. Our cousin brought the saddest news of our life that our mother was no more. She took her last breath during her afternoon nap when she was alone in the house. When we reached our house we saw mother lying in the courtyard covered with flowers and garlands and people were waiting there to accompany her for her last journey. We could not gather enough courage to glance at mother's face and were hoping that some miracle would happen as we read in the stories and God would arrive and give life back to our mother. However, no miracle happened, our tears in eyes made our vision hazy and mother was taken for her last journey.

Over the night we left behind our puerile behaviors and tried to behave like responsible women to take care of the family. The teaching we got from mother during the short span of our association had a great impact on our life particularly in choosing the right path. Now we have become independent after fighting against all odds and taking care of father.

Though our association was short, we always cherish the memories of our misty mother, to the extent we can recapitulate.

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# _My mother said to me, "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general; if you become a monk, you'll end up as the pope." Instead I became a painter and wound up as Picasso._

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 32. Create a great day

By Brittany Sargent

A daughter remembers how her mother took on the challenges she faced in life but always portrayed a positive attitude to life, believing strongly that it was up to us to 'create a great day'

Born in 1944 in California as an only child, my mother was the blonde and beautiful 'California-babe'. She did the debutante and pageant thing and grew up blessed. But, she wanted her cowboy and married my father in 1965 and moved to Utah. For a woman who had grown up to think for herself, and know the power of women, she was now trying to live in a 'postcard-setting' environment of white picket fences, children and religious suburbia.

She had my sister at 22, me at 28 and my brother at 34. Growing up I was always a bit of a rebel, especially when my parents divorced. I knew there was more to life and wanted to do everything I could find. As frustrating as it was, she encouraged it (in a positive way). Especially as she found herself single, with 3 children of which her older daughter 16 was pregnant and now having to find work and living in a place where she was not of the same religion and became somewhat of a black sheep.

She gradually found herself becoming stronger as I watched. I watched and help her study for her New York Stock Exchange exams (from becoming a secretary in an investment firm to a full blown stock broker). I watched her deal with 3 children, trying to survive in a man's world not only establishing herself as a woman but also dealing with what she liked and didn't like about herself and the world.

She taught me throughout my life of trials and tribulations and now my success in business that you grow and change and what you have learned makes you who you are. In the last 10 years, she has become even more beautiful.... she tended to her ailing parents (moving into their home to help them), watching them both die, watching her beloved 2nd husband die and now dealing with gradual disintegration of her son being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis several years back and in a highly progressive stage. She, herself, is fighting an immune disorder.

Throughout all of this, while I am working and residing in the Middle East, she keeps the same calm collected life embracing attitude that has made me look at her in wonder since I was a child.

In particular, I have been influenced by her all encompassing acceptance of life and of people, knowing that change will happen.

In school, she would put post-its in my lunch every day to tell me "Create a great day"...those were everything to me. To this day, in my care packages from home, she does the same or leaves in it a post it with a smiley face or a heart. I do the same with my son now as well.

What it made me realize is that her attitude has always started with just that. Regardless of adversity (sometimes, the adversity was so terrible for her), it begins with deciding how you will take on that day.

My mother - my biggest fan, my mentor, my inspiration and the epitome of compassion and self-understanding, I love you.

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# 33. Mothers, women empowered

By Mary Qast

An inspiring speech given by the author to a women celebrating Mothers Day in Saginaw, Michigan

Women are empowered to control the destiny of the world. Throughout history, men have been the movers, shakers, war makers, and peace leaders. But behind every great man was a great woman; it wasn't his wife but his mother. As a mother raises her children, she is unknowingly sculpting the future. She sees a child who needs to be loved, cared for, and taught. As time goes on, the child grows into an adult character as a result of such upbringing.

Can you imagine what life would be like if Edison's mother wouldn't have encouraged his tinkering? I'm in the dark on that one. What if George Washington Carver's mother would have not let him play in the garden? I guess we wouldn't be eating Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwiches. Do you realize how many inventions were created by men and women to add to the comfort of their mothers? Well, the modern washing machine wasn't created because a man wanted his clothes cleaner, but because he didn't want to see his mother work so hard. Some of the great women in history wanted to change society because of the poor treatment their mothers suffered; just look at the wonderful advances in politics and medicine.

Many of the leaders of the world have been deeply influenced by women who weren't their mothers but care about them in a way a mother would; an escaped slave, a pioneer, a kind stranger, a friend's mother, a special aunt, an older sister, a teacher. Take a moment and think about the many women in your own life who've comforted you, guided you on the right path, who encouraged a talent. Was it a favorite Sunday-school teacher who let you sing a little too loud just because you felt the spirit? Was it an older sister that when you confided your first kiss experience with, talked to you about boys and gave you a bottle of Listerine for the cooties? Was it a teacher at school who saw a gift within you and encouraged you to see it? Was it your best friend's mom who helped you realizes that your own mother wasn't truly crazy but really did know best? What about those youth advisors in church group who developed such a relationship, they became another set of parents? Take a moment this Mother's Day to thank some of the women who've influence your life.

There are so many maternal figures; but not only women play the mother role. In today's society there are several single fathers raising daughters. I knew a fellow who did just that. After shopping for a prom dress, he allowed his daughter to paint his finger nails various shades of pink so she could determine what color she wanted to wear. It takes a special kind of love for a father to be a mother also; but he knows how important it is. If you know of a man in this situation, please give him any maternal advice you'd give your daughter, your words may be comforting and helpful.

Are you aware of how you may have influenced or influencing another's life right now? Look around you. Think about the children in your neighborhood. Do you have any girl scouts that pay you annual visits selling cookies? When I was a scout, there were four of us in my neighborhood. It was hard selling cookies with so much competition. But there were several kind ladies who would purposely purchase a box from each one of us. I remember we'd go to our fourth grade teacher who lived around the corner. She would always purchase cookies, candy, or popcorn from us. During the summer she bought beautiful bouquets of dandelions and violets in Dixie cups giving each of us a nickel. Little did she know the great impact she was making and the sense of self pride she instilled within us.

When you leave here today, I hope each of you realize the power you hold with your touch, your gentleness, your support and your love. You have the ability to influence more that just your own children. If you don't have children, you will touch others just as a mother would. The next time you buy cookies from a scout or you adjust the ponytail of a little girl after church, picture her as a doctor, a lawyer, the president of the United States, or something even better, a great Mom! Remember that each one of you is a woman empowered to shape the future, the destiny of the world. My hat is off to you.

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Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs....since the payment is pure love

Mildreat B Vermont.

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 34. Never replaced

By Uday B Nagavarapu

There is nothing in this world that replaces Mother. The Story of a wonderful mother who is best friend, teacher, mentor, supporter, and inspiration to the author.

I am very happy to share this story and I always pray God to give a mother to everybody in this world like my mom.

Before starting I would like introduce myself. I was born in small town Nellore in India and living in USA.

My mom's name is Indira, She was 15 years when I was born and 17 when my sister was born. As she is so young, we were brought by our grandparents for few years and then we moved with our mom. I use to hate her in the beginning of my childhood as she was so strict in every way but when I started growing I came to know all that discipline is part of love.

Her life used to revolve around us, she used to play with us and teach us lessons though with her limited knowledge. When I was a child, my mother always told me that I had to grow up and support mankind as much as I can. Those stories and words of my mom helped me in every way.

I had some struggles to overcome in life and she was there for me every time. She was a big inspiration, mentor and big supporter in everything and she always says a person should have big dreams so that many people will have support and inspiration from what we do. She also constantly reminded us that we had one life to live and it was up to us to shape it in the best manner possible.

When ever in life I get depressed I always remember my mom and her words which enable me to rise and continue my life's journey. Once I even defeated death just thinking of my mother and her advices related to such situations.

She thought me humanity, hope, patience, persistence, and vision. She motivated me to have big dreams in life and to Never Give Up. She is 47 years old now and I am working hard in making my dreams a reality and the day I reach my destination, I will tell my MOM that I have become what I am, because of her relentless inspiration.

I am very much thankful to God who gave me a wonderful gift in this life 'my MOM'.

#

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# 35. I know she did

By RVH Babu

A son expresses all the sufferings and adaptations his mother went through

My MOM was born in the year 1957 in south INDIA and she did her studies very well that time, even though her wedding bells sounded without continuing further academics.

Once she gets into the family life, my father was well in business ideologies and earnings that time. After that suddenly he has completely dropped out from the business. From that day on wards she was getting into deeper troubles about how to run the family day by day. I am the elder son and had two younger sisters. It was difficult to make ends meet without any financial support from my father.

After that she was getting depressed day by day about my father and thinking every second about what to do for her children and family.

I know the sleepless nights she spent without eating much food on time.

I know the days when she had crying face with tearful eyes.

I know the days she went to some country side school as a teacher to earn some money for family support. I know how she was insulted those days for it.

I know the days she didn't take food at my home because what was available was insufficient. In spite of all that, she made us grown up as children with commitment and responsibility.

After that she started home schooling for the local children and earned some money for the family. But still my father remained in the same situation and criticized my mother to show his male domination.

I know how she is a guide to me in all conditions. I know how she is inspiring me when I was in trouble to do anything. I know how she is giving moral support when I am getting into critical situations. I know how she cared for me without sleep, when I caught different diseases during my childhood. I know how she supported me when I was in the beginning of my career.

But still she maintains the same attitude and honor about any situations and troubles. She did well to ensure that my family got back in shape after all adversities.

But still,

When I am in depression, my first call goes to my MOM,

When I am in trouble my first call goes to my MOM,

When I want to take decisions also my first call goes to my MOM, Like that my sisters do as well with her.

All about I can say, She is my Guide, Mentor, Energy, Power and in all, above all.

She holds the world's first place, my MOM created by GOD.

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36. Fulfilling her ambition

By Bhonagiri Monica

A daughter moves ahead in life, building upon what her mother taught her, and with an aim of fulfilling her mother's dream.

My Mother's name is Sujatha. In Sanskrit, the first two letters 'Su' means a good person. As the name indicates my mother is really a good person.

I am 19 yrs old. My Mother is 43 yrs old. I am the first child for my mother. I am having one sister 5 years younger than me. I was always delicate and sensitive compared to my sister and this made my mother focus more on me in everything she did.

Since childhood, I was afraid to go anywhere without my mother. Even when I was to go to school, I was afraid to do so. My mother would explain all the downsides of not going to school and studying well, and then send me to school. Since my childhood, I wasn't having many friends. My mother was my only best friend.

I remember that, during my schooling, I cried many times as I was having no friends to share my feelings with. After coming home I would tell my mother everything that had happened in my school and she would listen to me like a friend.

She used to tell me that "There are different kinds of people in this world and we have to behave according to their behaviour". This sentence changed me a lot and made me more confident in dealing with new and strange people. Now I am doing my engineering studies 3rd year and I am able to talk with each and every one without fear or inhibition. Now I am having so many friends. But still my mother is the best one among them.

My Grandmother expired when my mother was 18 yrs old. At that time my mother was studying 12th class. My mother's only dream was to study well and settle in a higher position. After my grand mother's death, due to some financial problems, my mother wasn't able to continue with her studies. A few years later she was married and I was born a year later.

From child hood, I was an average student in school. When I was 15 yrs old, during my 10th grade exams, one day I cried a lot because I couldn't understand anything that was there in my textbook. I went to my mother's room and told her that I was afraid about my exams then she said to me "My childhood dream was to study well and settle in a good position but it wasn't possible since you and your sister were born soon after marriage and I had to change my decision about studies. But now I have decided to make you (me) an engineer and your sister (my sister) a doctor." My mother's words gave me a lot of strength and I wrote my exams very well and I passed with a first class. My mother was the first person to hear about it and to become happy after seeing my results. After my 10th standard exams, I decided to become an engineer and now I am presently studying 3rd year in electrical engineering and my sister is studying 9th standard. My sister has also decided to become a doctor when she grows up.

Now for me and my sister, our only dream is "To fulfill our Mother's ambition"

I Love you MOM.

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# 37. Grandmother's memories

By Sudha Lukka

Her grandmother has left a void in her life, something she tries to fill with the avid memories of her childhood at her grandmother's house.

Before I write my mothers story I would like to write about my grand mom, because she is the one who raised my mom so wonderfully well. My grand mom left this world leaving my mom, aunts, and uncles as orphans. I am saying this even though my grandpa is alive as I understood after her demise, in spite of how wonderful a family one might have, with out mothers they are like orphans.

My grand mom started her family at a small village in Andhra Pradesh after her marriage. She was only 12 years old then, she came from an affluent family to lead lower middle class life with my grandpa. She learnt all her lessons from her life and in the process became more matured than her age. Being a mother of five children in a lower middle class family she made a lot of sacrifices to raise them and tried to satisfy everybody with her attitude.

As a baby I was with my grand mom along with my mom for sometime, but the days which I remember most are, when I was in high school we used to go to my grand mom's place for vacation not only our family, but my aunts, uncles and their families too. She surprised us with her energy levels, enthusiasm and her compassion. All over she was very caring and concerned; I wonder how she could satisfy everybody by finding their individual preferences, not only of her sons and daughters but her grandchildren too. You don't believe that in village every thing is not as easy as in cities they cook on stoves made of mud, and for bathing have to carry water in pails everything is difficult there even then she could manage every thing so smooth and she never looked tired in spite of heavy work. Instead she used to enjoy a lot with all of us.

I still remember the essence of the songs she sung for us and stories she said, in between the swaying heads of marigold plants, tall coconut and palm trees snuggled under the wide spread sky in the light of full moon. Those are the petty moments perennial in my memory about her.

Really my grand mom is the best bundle of wonders I ever knew. She was so simple, innocent yet organized. She handled life by dedicating it to her family, keeping her own interests aside and made her family as her top priority. Everybody in her family is well settled now and this itself was the only gift she expected from us. I do remember her death she had a stroke and she suffered for 13 days in coma, though my uncle and aunt are doctors and (I was in the third year of my M.B.B.S) we could not do anything to save her. After her death the place where she lived lost the liveliness.

Though she is not amongst us, she guided us in the best possible ways to lead a peaceful life by switching off the ego and being down to the earth.
This poem reflects how I feel about my grand mom.

MY GRAND MOTHER'S PLACE

There been a place in that hamlet  
where I enclosed  
my treasury of childhood memories  
during vacations  
which had been guarded by a grand woman  
a fair minded innocent mother  
who minds nothing save her house and heirs,  
in between singing Rosemary  
which were brought up by pouring her happiness,  
but .... cruel fate like a serpent bitten.

Thence conquered darkness all over the house  
and the treasure buried to depth by fallen flower buds  
which are dumb to speak  
knowing the lost animation of the place  
enables never to get into it  
in fear of disfiguring the pleasant memories of the place  
which projects my live grand mothers place.

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# 

# _Motherhood is the most important of all professions; requiring more knowledge than any other department in human affairs._

# _Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815-1902)_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 38. Through dark phase of life

By Pushpalatha A.

A mother guides her daughter through turmoil, to overcome the dark past and move on into the sunny morrows..

Amma (Mom) said, "The labor pain, when you were born stayed only for 2 or 3 hours. But now the pain of watching your agony does not seem to recede. It is persisting days and nights"

Pulled back by these words? Yeh, she feels my pain as her pain. True, Mom lives for me only. Before going into the context in which she said those words, I'd like to give you a glimpse of our lives together.

I, 34 years old now and single, belong to Andhra Pradesh in India. Seven years back when I got a job in State Bank of India in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, Mom came along with my father for accompanying me in the new place. I have two elder sisters, married, back in my hometown. Father was in and out of ICU by then, diagnosed with Cardiac Myopathy and IHD. Doctors advised not to move him to a new place as he had to be looked after like a delicate piece of glass. But the anxious parents wanted to support their daughter in her new job. Mom was entirely managing the show, on her own, taking care of the critically ill father and running the home. Quite a struggle for her, as she does not know English, or the language spoken in that state, Tamil.

True to the spirit of the Indian womanhood, she was living entirely for my ailing father and now for her daughters. Hers is a small world comprising of us only.

And that fateful day finally came. Dad spoke to her about the plans about my marriage and the next day itself he took his last breath, in serenity, on a sunny afternoon, while reading Bhagavad-Gita. Mom was all alone by his side while I was away at work, in that religious town called Chidambaram, in Tamil Nadu. Can I ever forget her face, calm and composed but showing a broken heart!

True, I saw her, all these 34 years, praying, praying and praying, incessantly for the life of my father. Her prayers were answered till 2001, at least, thank God.

Married to a government employee in the state education department, in her early 20's, her ordeals began when my father got addicted to alcoholism. Soon the family got into a debt trap, her gold ornaments slowly vanished. She was always worried what would happen to her beloved husband and children. Her efforts to join him in a de-addiction centre failed, he was in and out of frequent disease. It was a tale of poverty, hunger, feeding and giving a decent education to the children, getting the daughters settled down in their lives, father's illness and praying about his welfare all the time. We never saw the serenity in her face fading away or her complaining or crying. Moreover her bonding with my dad grew only stronger with the tough life. She is an unsung hero for all her courage, will-power and undefeated love.

Seven years rolled on, Mother and I kept on moving from one town to another, my father's last wish about my marriage still remaining unfulfilled. At present I am working in the Sriperumbudur branch of State bank of India, 40 km from Chennai.

Then came the trauma in my life in his form, two months back. 'May I know the nice soul who sent this message for me?' - is my first response to his SMS, sent by him wishing me for the harvest festival in mid-January. It triggered a spate of messages that started a psychological voyage with him. He is Bhaskar, works for a reputed company, dotted on the Chennai-Bangalore highway. My first encounter with him was official as he came asking about a customer grievance.

No doubt, he seemed the right guy for me. After our office hours we used to chat over phone for hours which extended to lovely SMS that dwelt on travel, music, spirituality and anything on earth till we fell asleep. He won't sleep till he receives the good night message, he calls as lullaby. I used to invite him over lunch on Sundays to our home, which mom resented a bit. Mom used to be worried about me, began to spend sleepless nights but I was flowing in a spate of love that I failed to care for her feelings.

One day mom called me and counseled "You are going to regret your companionship with him sooner than later. He is cheerful but does not seem to be reliable. I can read from a face. My experience in life taught me like that. Your heart is softer than that of your dad's, if it breaks once, can't be cured at all. Your father suffered a lot from betrayals in his life. I can't see your pain. My stomach will ache. I am a worried lot about you."

Soon he proposed to me saying "Naija, my children can speak five languages, fluent, spiritual if I marry you and they can have a loving mother just the way I wanted. Can I speak to my dad?".

He knew that I was much elder to him but it did not stop him from proposing to me. He calls me 'Naija', means the most precious. I always used to discourage him about his nurturing dreams of our married life that he used to share in our conversations as age is a barrier in Indian marriages. And I had sense of guilt that I could not stop loving him even though I was elder to him. That made me tell him "Don't hurry. Realize things, Think and come to speak to my mom." Nevertheless, he did not stop treating me as his wife in his conversations.

Blissfully, I was blind in my faith that he would marry only me, nobody else.  
"Naija, if you are planning to desert me, then think of Bhaskar as dead and that his soul remains with you." And "If your desert me, all of my friends will desert me. I will be left alone." Phrases such as these were always ringing in my ears, and I did not prepare myself for a situation if he deserts me.

Finally my fateful day came. The third week of March brought out a catastrophe, in his call, that, he was going to see a bride for himself, with pressure from his parents. That night I had a nightmare of myself in totally dark, alien lanes, chanting his name madly, asking the deities over there to unite me with him.

I cajoled him, tried to convince him, persuade him, wanted him to come frank about our lives.

"In fact I wanted you to hate me and get away from me on hearing that I am going to get engaged soon. But since you are not leaving me, I am telling you a fact that I held back from you so far. Even before proposing you, I have expressed my desire of marrying you in my family, but they disagreed my marrying you. I have promised my mother that I would marry the girl she chose. But I was already mesmerized by you by that time. For my happiness, I started calling you as my wife. It is true that I am deserting you for my family. They have made a promise to that girl's family that I would marry her. Believe me, I have not still seen her, but she is going to be the future. I thought you can put up with it. If you want to keep on crying, you can. I want to live."

The earth under my feet started moving and I broke into bits and pieces. Where is our dream house, our shared dream of kids and life after our marriage, he used to describe as 'heaven'? Why at all he played with my feeling when he knew that he won't marry me? Only questions, no answers. Mom's heartache for me slowly unfolded in front of my eyes, when everything is over.

Life has come to a grinding halt since then. I can't eat properly, sleep or work, frequently breaking into tears, always thinking of him in a myth that he would come back for me. In my agony I have completely stopped speaking to everyone including my mom, making her more lonely and miserable.

Can you guess how my mom responded when I asked her if we both can commit suicide together as we have nothing to look forward in life? She told "Even as my life is symbolic of pain, I never thought of killing myself at any stage."

Truly she is a champion of the biggest cause, which is nothing but life itself!

Even as I have broken her faith in me by ignoring her words, she does not hate me. She tries to console, soothe and never fails to advice me. True, mothers are always right. There may be daughters who may fail to listen to mom's words but there are no mothers who stop caring for them!

Could this mothers' day be complete without paying tribute to my mom?

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# 39. Waiting at the gate for me

By Rajkiran Gouni

A son relishes the thought of seeing his mother once again after a long gap following his migration overseas for education.

It was on 10th August, 2008, I left my home country, India to head United States for my higher education and I still remember saying good bye to my hearty god known to me, my mother, Uma Rani. She knew that I would not return for two years from then but was sending me with great courage and loads of hidden tears in her eyes, which I could see clearly. I appreciate her courage, as she has to live without having me (22 years old, only son) in my home. I think she will be happy for what I am today, as things went accordingly in my wish, which are all her blessings.

My mother is as sweet as every mother would be. We are a family of 6 people with my father, my grandmother and two younger sisters. We use to live in a village around 50 kilometers from Hyderabad. As soon as I return home from my school I use to go to her with all the incidents happened to me since that morning I left her. She was always there to listen, laugh, encourage and help me throughout my life. She is the best teacher to me, in teaching good manners and politeness to live in the society.

The time has come to separate me with my parents when I have to leave them for my high school study in Hyderabad, as the school in the village doesn't provide it. She said to me "to achieve our ambitions for a good cause we need to sacrifice some of our likings in the way of life". I stayed in my aunt's home for four years. I use to go home every fortnight. I think I am fortunate to experience the utmost joy in life at that age, seeing my mother waiting for me in front of my home on the day I return to my village. Even though the food made at my home was ordinary (not rich enough in vegetables) I can honestly say that I had a great one in my life when my mother fed me with her hands into my mouth. I did not find anywhere the taste of food to that level throughout my life. I think it might be because of the absence of mother's love in the ingredients.

I can confidently say that my mother is the only person in this world who understands and know me completely. It is sometimes astonishing for me that how she will come to know what I am feeling for; I think this is enough to describe what a mother is for her child. She is my world since my childhood and she was with me in all good and bad times.

I don't know how I am going to return all the love and care that she had for me, as whatever I do would definitely be very less compare to her. Even a sincere thanks to her is very inadequate. I know that all she needs in return is a reputation of her son's prosperity; is it not a peerless love?

Now, I am looking for that joyful moment again to see my mother waiting for me at the doors of my home in India when I go back.

I love you so much mom, that I want to be with you all my life.

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# 40. Love at first sight

By Sravani KP

A daughter's first love.. her mother.

I BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT COZ EVER SINCE I OPENED MY EYES I LOVE MY "MOTHER".

My mother's name is Santha Devi. Though she was born in a rich family she really experienced a tough childhood. As she was born in a village, she got married after her 12th class. She never spent a happy life even after her marriage. Suddenly my father lost his job. Then, I was a one year baby and my brother was three. Then she took the initiative in running the family. She took a job as a teacher and earned a small amount of three hundred rupees. The times were tough that my parents could not look after me. They handed over me to my grand parents (Mother's Parents). Every weekend she used to come to my grandparent's house visit me and then went back to work. I still can't forget the tears rolling down her years while leaving me at grandparent's house.

I'm proud to say that I have a very sweet and loving mother. She's the driving force behind my every tiny success. In my Intermediate I really faced a tough time. A guy used to tease asking me to love him. Then I was so scared even to step out of my house. The support that she gave me during that period was incredible. She's my role model, friend, philosopher, guide and everything.

She has been struggling for the past twenty years for the sake of family. She never takes rest unless she's seriously ill. I pray God that she should always be healthy and happy.

MA, MAMMA, MOM, AMMA - In which ever language you call her she's always there to look after you.

LOVE YOU MY DEAR MOTHER.

NO ONE ON THIS EARTH LOVES YOU AS MUCH AS YOUR MOTHER DOES.

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# 41. Greatness of a mother

By Aruna Kallu

A daughter recalls her childhood and transition into adulthood when she was forced to live apart from her mother.

There is no other person in your life or in the world who can love you as your mother loves you. Only a mother can love you without expecting anything back from you. She always cares about your health, growth, character development etc. In that she won't even care for her...What else a person wants more than mother's pure love.

My mother is 50 now. I am the second child for her. I have one elder brother and one younger sister. Ours is a below middle class family. My father is a school teacher. My mother used to manage three of us without any support from anybody not even from my father who always busy in his school matters and comes home late.

Because of the financial problems my father always asks us to stop our studies. But it is my mother who didn't allowed our studies to stop. She somehow managed to get money from our relatives or she sold off her gold for our studies. Only because of her we three are in good position today. She always used to tell me, you should complete your studies and get good jobs, so that you can be independent. Without her support, I would not have been in this position. Now I am getting good salary, and I have a good family. Whatever money she has, she used to spend for our studies. She never bought any new saris, gold for her till we completed our studies. She managed like that. Really that is a great sacrifice only a mother can do for her child.

There were days when I used to scold her because she was very strict with me. But once I joined hostel for my higher studies I started loving her very much. Then I realized the value of my mother. Now I am MAD for her love. As I am married and staying apart from her, I always miss her. Amma, I MISS YOU very badly always. I always want to be with her. Sometimes I feel I should not have married so that I could stay with my mother forever.

Whenever she visits my place I will be so excited and happy. But I will be so sad when she leaves. I love her more than anyone in the world. Actually I am a short tempered and gets angry so fast. But I will never show my anger on her. I have so much love, affection for her. I can give everything she wants now, but she won't expect anything from me, except our well being....that is the greatness of my MOTHER.

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# 42. Memories are forever

By Emma Robinson

A 78 year old daughter remembers her mother who was a great cook, carpenter and above all a great mom.

My mother is not with me anymore physically but spiritually she is. I remember things she used to say and do; also the places we used to go.

She grew up in Alabama. Her mom and dad died early; she was very young then.

She made me go to church and I received Christ at an early age.

My mom was a good cook. Her food was delicious. She used to cook good old fried chicken, baked nice tasty cakes, fried okra, sweet tomatoes, greens and corn bread. She also was a very good house-keeper. She was really a clean lady. She kept her floor real clean and her bedroom and kitchen.

She also was a good carpenter. She could build and fix anything. She made many shelves to put things on.

She also kept a trunk full of clothes so she could have us dresses out of it. My mother also was a good gardener. She used to raise nice vegetables.

She had a large family of 5 brothers and 4 sisters.

We used to go to town together which was Birmingham, Alabama. That was a treat those days because it is still a big city. We used to go to the restaurants there too and that was a treat.

We used to visit our relatives in Birmingham. My mother's sister lived there. We used to go to the ball games and have a good time in our little city.

I miss my mom but I will always remember her. She was a sweet caring lady. I will always remember her. May she continue to be in the presence of God.

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# 43. Cherishing her memories

By Dr. Sam Mathew

A son, the youngest in a large family, cherishes his mother's memories of all the good times he had with her, especially those of her last days.

Imagine a world without mothers. It is a world that is non-existential and even if it does exist, it cannot survive. It essays the value of motherhood profoundly. The Holy Bible says in Genesis 3:20 that "Adam named his wife Eve because she was the mother of all human beings." But was Eve ever assessed as a mother? How successful was she as a mother? Did she fail because from her womb came forth the world's first murderer? Or was her love as a mother so intense that Cain expected the same from others, including God?

Mothers are generally endowed with the quality of love, and no matter what, it sustains right throughout. That love is the ultimate, comparable to the 'agape' love God shows. Of course, there are exceptions as in all matters; mothers who don't show love, mothers who discard their young ones, and mothers who are not selfless. But generally they are full of love and that makes them unique humans.

It is in such love that I grew up in my childhood. Love sublime, even if I was the last in a large family of ten. I also had the advantage of observing the nine ahead of me and adjust my life in order to be loved by her. I guess the love was mutual. I remember in my primary school days when I was offered a candy I would treasure it the whole day with me at school, just to bring it home in the evening and share half of it with my mother. The love for her was so intense enough to overcome the temptation to eat the candy earlier in the day as any young child would. So was she towards me. I always had the special share of food among the ten, sometimes hidden from the view of others. This love had its pitfalls too. It made me a soft person, unable to face the rigors of later life.

As a budding physician after my med school, she advised me to serve people and not to focus on monetary gains. This I did faithfully that left me dry financially as a physician. But her advice gained me fame and love from my patients. My house was always full of guests and not once I saw her sulk towards the extra load of work she had, to serve the guests. She served them the best always but in this, she was ably supported by my father too. Our house was the official "guest house" for many. I learned the art of 'giving' from them. My marriage must have been the turning point that separated me physically from my mother though transiently. The love became shared but it was now inclusive of the great love my wife had for her, as my wife and I lived with my parents for ten long years.

Marriages in a family of ten, also changes the dynamics of the whole family. From a joyous and fun-loving family it slowly meandered into more serious and friction-ridden situations. The frictions occasionally disappear as we meet together once in a while, but the embers keep burning within, so much so that my mother's latter days were unhappy. I would say that even her earlier days were rift, with a loving but short-tempered husband. But after my father's death, it was as if she had no one to go to. She lived with me the last 6 months before I emigrated with my family from India to the US. My wife, children and I enjoyed her stay with us during this short period, an unforgettable moment, a cherished moment in our memories. She passed away in her sleep just over a year after I left for the US. Forty-nine years I spent my life with her and only a year was I away from her. She died in my 50th year but her memory has been with me these 4 long years that she's gone and will remain so for ever.

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# 44. Keep rocking mother

By Sunitha Shyam

A daughter's blog about her mother, who has influenced her life in more than one way.

Obviously this is not the only day I am thankful to God for giving me such awesome parents....but lets make today special by writing a little more about my wonderful mother!

What has she not done for me? Nothing.....what I am today is totally her making. Such an awesome mixture of beauty, brains and courage, she made the perfect role model; could not have asked for more! She made me work very hard....tough task master that she was (you can never be working up to your full potential!); she had rigid rules when I was younger about cleanliness (shower just 2-3 times a day? Why so lazy?!!!), sleep timings (the lesser, the better!), friends (talk to them in school....no wasting time again at home in the evenings, talking over phone!), vocabulary (the words, 'no', 'can't do', 'can't find', 'don't know' etc did not exist in her dictionary!), etc.....

She also taught me the joys of charity and well-being, by being the most generous person I have seen! For example, she did not give leftovers to the maid we had then (single mom supporting three daughters), but actually made fresh food for her one day simply because she thought she looked tired that day! Now that she knows I am into blogging, she has given me a list of topics to blog about, that would make even Mother Teresa notice! "Blog about poverty, talk about various important diseases that need more funding, or can help poorer people," etc. I may not have responded too enthusiastically ma, but I am so proud of you for reminding me of such topics......that's what makes you, you! I most definitely will too, coz I am her daughter and it is in the genes, right? If I do forget some values at any point in life, I am sure she will also remind me of the lost ones and give me one good talk that will make me wish the earth will open up and swallow me.

At times of need, she proved to be the most courageous person in the family and was, is and will always be the most optimistic person I know! She never gives up when the rest of the world does.....I like to think I inherited little bit of that, but I do know I have a thread of pessimism in me many a times, that I inherited from my father's practical approach to things. But I do like the balance that brings!

She has also been my best friend throughout life and there is not much she does not know. I also firmly believe that if I can't tell my mother about something I am doing, then it is wrong and I shouldn't be doing it in the first place! I have also learnt this the hard way. But who is always there behind me after I make those mistakes and am recovering? It's always her and I am so glad for the total, unconditional support in life.

To summarize, I will write 10 things (facts, quirks, and nerdy things) about my mom (I may be killed for this)!

1. Floors at home have to be cleaned at least twice a day, with her best old friend, the bleaching powder!!!

2. She used to hate having pets at home, but now Dippy and Dashy are her children; more so than my cute brother and me!

3. She actually does not mind food in planes!!!

4. She loves to gossip and makes sure she is aware of her neighbors' activities, although she will swear otherwise

5. She is so young at heart, knowing all about the latest actors, singers, etc. and she is a fan of many as much as I am, or even my younger cousins in college and school are!

6. She is a great business woman too, even more than I suspect she thinks

7. When I got birthday cards from secret admirers way back in school, she actually decoded and gave me the names of the card senders!!!

8. She knows all about my secrets and crushes, even the ones I did not tell her; the shrewdest person I know in the world!!!

9. Jealousy is not in her nature at all.

10. She wishes she had achieved so much more in life, without knowing how much she has influenced the world around her by being herself and her achievements are priceless!

Love you ma.....if I am even 50 % of the mother you are, I would be a fantastic mom too.

Keep rocking this world!

P.S – Happy Mother's day to all other moms reading this too I am sure you are all rocking your kid's world too!

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God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers

Rudyard Kipling

English poet, novelist

Nobel Prize Winner 1907 (1865-1936)

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 45. A wonderful mother

By Aishwarya Santhosh

Mother!! A best friend, a helping hand, a support to her children, a light of inspiration, shares all sufferings of her child........in other words who can't be replaced by any one else in this world

I am indeed happy to share my wonderful story about my mother.

Let God create mothers like my mother to all the children in the world.

My mother's name is Indhu. She was 19 years when I was born. She is probably the first person who created a hope and self confidence inside me towards my achievements in studies and other cultural activities.

During my childhood days I used to be a kind of afraid of my mom, because she used to be strict. Often I never used to talk with her. But as I started growing I got to know much about her kindness, her love, affection towards me. Actually she was not that strict only to keep my way straight she used to be strict, but from inside her heart she is so simple and kind hearted.

She is indeed someone special for me. Once we went to Bombay in 2004 to spend my vacation. At that time my mom was 30 years old and I was 11 years old. We took lodge in my relative's house, as they were away for their vacation. We had all fun there. One day my father had to go to his native place, Kerala suddenly. We, my mom and I had to stay back in the house. Dad went for two days.

That night as we were sleeping, due to short circuit our air condition started creating small sparks but we didn't notice as we all were in a deep sleep. Suddenly my mom heard the sound and got up. She called me up and asked me to run out of the house. The fire was spreading inside the room. I ran out. But mom remained there. She brought buckets of water to put of the fire. The fire was successfully put out. But accidentally my mom got a burn in her hand. But still she managed the situation boldly without screaming or shouting. She dint even call me for help.

At last she thanked God for saving us from a great hazard. She also thanked God for burning her hand sparing me. She said that if I was burnt instead of her she would have died. But now she was happy since god spared me.

She saved my life risking her life. Really that day I came to know how much she loved me.

My mother is indeed special with her eyes twinkling, with her smile conquering, with a face as bright as moon with her love that never ends. My gratitude towards her never ends before her unlimited love that she lends.

I wish!! All the children in the world get a mother as loving and caring as my mother.

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# 46. Before I was myself, you made me, me

By Arshita Surbhi

Her mother knew exactly what would happen later on in life and had answers for her, even while she was just a toddler.

"Mother, mommy, well we do have quite a bitter sweet relationship. To me she is like salt – free flowing and indispensable."

So where do I start from?

Last night:

My best friend just ditched me and I am bawling my eyes out for the first time in 16 years.

Mummy said "why are you crying for such a small thing? Take it positively; at least you came to know who she really was."

Well that was a first... the first time I really told my mom anything at all.

All through my life I have been a person who never lets anyone know even though I may be crumbling inside. Well recently my academic life was going through a slump for some inexplicable reason. My mother kept, nagging me about it. I, being me, never said anything. I knew I was disappointing her in more ways than one and I didn't know what to do about it. So just to make her content I lied to her and hid my marks from her.

However my mother ultimately found out, and all hell broke loose. She hates lying, you see. The only thing she ever said was,

"For 15 years of your life, I have given you everything you want. But now all of my efforts are going down the drain. How can you do this to me?? "

This one statement really got to me. And from then on I have been trying to work harder.

One day, rummaging through the cupboard, I found a little blue diary. In it my mother had recorded the first year of my life. Every small detail of my actions was lovingly recorded. She repeatedly called me a gift from the heavens and she had written that I was the best thing that ever happened to her.

In the end she had written

"In your life there will be times when the going will get tough. Those will be the times you can count on me to be by your side. I will do all I can to give you the best of everything. But it will be up to you to decide what you want to do in life. My only request to you is that down the road to success; don't forget that above all you are a good human being. Never do something that you will regret later."

That, my friends, is my mother. The one person who knows what I am capable of and though I still haven't achieved all that I can, one day I will and it will all be because of my mother.

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# 47. My super woman

By Ashwin Radhakrishnan

"A son fondly remembers his loving mother"

On the third of September 1993, a man in his early thirties who had just come back from a trip realized that he had a duty to perform. That was to take his wife to the hospital as she was pregnant. After the exciting arrival of her firstborn two years ago, she could hardly wait to receive her next child. On September 5th 1993 she gave birth to her first son and named was Ashwin. He was admired in the hospital as he was a cute and chubby baby. He had just entered this beautiful world and his mother had a big task ahead of her to bring him up and make her child a thorough gentleman in the society.

As time passed the mother taught him how to walk and talk. The only difficulty she faced was to make him write. Though he was naughty and played pranks from day one of kindergarten, the teachers could just not make him to write anything. The problem was genuine. Little did anyone know that the little innocent child was a left handed student until the mother found this out!

Since he was naughty, he got shouting from his mother as well as his father. If he'd cross the limits he'd be healing wounds! His mother would sit down with him for his studies and would also entertain him by playing board games or coloring with him. She'd often save him from his father for the wrongs he did during his childhood.

There were many ups and downs in his life but he is very lucky to always have his mother with him. She has spent her whole life in bringing up both her kids and it has paid off today. His elder sister had just passed out of school with flying colors.

Sometimes he often felt insecure about his life but has never hesitated to tell his mother all his feelings. His mother being very understanding had consoled him and he has benefited by being a smart child. His mother being just any ordinary women in the society, has turned out to be a super mom to him. She has not only handled the daily chores but has also done a great and burdening duty of working in a school!

Now, being a teenager, he asks his mother what she wants in return of her love and time she has utilized to bring him up, but the only answer she keeps saying is "I want you to have a good name in the society". It often keeps him wondering that why both his mother as well as his father saying that.

Now, he is a father and lives his life basking with his parents, wife and kids. He has proved to be an awesome child and has given them all the happiness in return of their gift to him by bringing him up! Today his parents are proud and now he realizes that the only thing a mother or father would want in life is to see his or her child successful in life. He also realizes that his mother was the super mother who helped him climb all those steep hills in his life.

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# 48. The queen of my life – my mother

By Beulah Shalayane Christopher

A teenaged daughter realizes the unconditional love of her mother.

My Mother is my Goddess. "A daughter's memory flies back to the old times when mother lead her leading a firm and giving her daughter the unconditional love."

With skin as soft as silk and eyes as piercing as the wind, my mother always caught my glance whenever she needed to. Pearly white teeth she would flash at me, locks of hair dangling from behind her ears. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever held so close in my little palms.

My mother is my Goddess. She gave up on her favorite TV serials, forsook her sleep and tuned herself to the difficulties a mother has to face. It was time to join school. She helped me study every day; washing and ironing my dirty uniforms. She bathed me, even on days when she was burning with high temperature. It was her hand and her golden heart that helped me in my growing years. A working woman, both, at home and office, she proved her dedication.

I remember one day, my mother took me to the grocery store and allowed me to pick up whatever I wanted. She did too, but when she reached the billing counter she figured there was not enough money in her wallet. My mother kept back most of the things she has picked up. And she let me have all the delicacies I craved for. Whenever I fell sick my mother would take leave and sit at home just to feed me and tap my forehead with a cold wet towel. She was never afraid to catch any of my virus infested sicknesses. She slept by me day in and day out.

She made the way for me when I didn't know how to walk. Although my voice would be heard at the compound's walls and the door would bang loud behind my back, I never once thought about how hurt my mother was. I did apologize, but only after a little fuss.

So, the most beautiful woman in my life is none other than my mother. She wears no makeup and she owns no jewelry. I am her precious jewel. She worked hard enough to prove just that. She made me believe in myself and she was my tower and my refuge. I always found shelter in her arms, no matter what good or bad I did. She loved me for who I was. She was never ashamed of walking down the corridor of my school, whenever I failed mathematics. She wore a happy face, but only I knew that the smile she wore, never reached her eyes. I tried my best the next time around. And, I did her proud. Every time I was tired and exhausted, I lazed about the house, I never ate my food. My mother fed me even though she was starving over a whole days work. There was not a day when she stayed in bed, complaining she was sick. She never closed her eyes at night without making sure she wished me goodnight. She taught me to be a woman of integrity. She also taught me the fear of God and she always said it was the beginning of wisdom.

It only makes me smile whenever I think of myself being my mother one day. I know there is only love and nothing less for me. She loved me even before I came into existence. I'd like to call that unconditional love- that is my mother.

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# 49. The beam in my life

By Catherine Mohanji Gera

"A loving daughter remembers her mother's ordeals in spite of herself being an esteemed birth."

Once in the town of Nagarcoil, there was a grand wedding of a rich man's beautiful daughter and the poor hard working professor. After this marriage this couple was blessed with a beautiful daughter after years of waiting. The mother of this little girl pampered her, affectionately nurtured her for example whenever she took her little daughter out, she dressed the young one in matching dresses and ornaments. And this couple was appraised by everyone for the united family life. As years rolled on, this family was blessed with another lovely daughter, but this time, the mother passed away. Leaving he kids mother-less. The father to cover up his grief married another woman to look after his young girls. But like many people, the father of these girls was a hen-pecked man. And he only wanted to please this sly woman who was hard hearted. She only thought about herself and made these innocent children her servants. She made their soft hands hard by asking them to do all the daily chores.

She even used to ask them to take out the chapatti out of the oven with their bare hands. The elder of the two girls was harassed more because she looked like her own mother. She was made to steal things like red flowers for her step mother. She was not allowed to go to school on time. She would have to run eight kilometers without stopping to join the class before the bell was heard. As soon as she got to school, she would have to stand in front of the principal's office for being late. All the more, she was not allowed to enter her house on returning from school. She had to water the plants wash to clothes of the whole family and these clothes had to be hung on the terrace, but as she was not allowed to go inside the house, she had to climb up the small pole with the bucket filled with clothes. Then, she had to come and do all the daily chores at home after which only was she allowed take a shower. She was supposed to help her mother in cooking. Even then she was not allowed to know how things were cooked because her step mother wanted her would-be husband to hate her. And for dinner, she was given last night's leftovers. For every mistake she made, she was slashed with a knife or trashed badly.

As year rolled on, this young girl somehow managed to get through her studies, her mother then wanted her to marry a rich tycoon so that she could benefit the privilege of money and luxury. But, like prince charming, my father rescued his princess, my mother.

The beam of my life, my mother having had a horrible childhood, she is always concerned about my upbringing. She has always seen to it that I don't falter in the path of life and if ever I do she has always been there to help me. My mother was and is always there to see my ups and downs and experience what I go through everyday. Like all precious things kept in safes. My mother is my safe in which I abide. She is and will always be the light of my life and the platform on which I stand. She is like the hen, protecting her chick from the predator, she is all my life and she is my mother!!!

#

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# 50. An angel in my life

By Cindy Joycelyn Fernandes

"Of all the gifts that God has blessed me with; none is more precious than my Mother."

My Mother is one of those gifts which I thank God for everyday of my life. My Mother who I call "MAMA" is not only my guide and my best friend but also my role model. She plays a dual role of a housewife as well as a successful career woman and is the pillar of strength in my family. I am the youngest out of three other siblings in my family and I am born and brought up in Doha. Initially my Dad was the main bread earner of my family (even though my Mom also supplemented our family's income) but then few years back in the year 1999 our family had a patch of bad luck when my Dad lost his job here in Doha after about fifteen years of service to an automobile company . This uncertainty came as a cloud of darkness in our lives here. My Mother, a woman of great strength was like a ray of sunlight. She was determined to fight us out of this difficult situation. She was instrumental not only in comforting my Dad to cope with this mishap but also did everything else right from washing our clothes to paying our school fees and electricity bills.

A teacher by profession with a rub of business mindedness my mother began her own little day care center with at the most 15 students to run her family during that difficult moment, today is a register renowned and fully fledged Nursery cum day care center with more than 100 students and she occupies the Manageress post. In addition to this she also has a Branch of this institution in our home country India in the state of Goa and she wishes to further expand her business in future.

Thus, my mother is the driving force behind my family's wellbeing and prosperity. She does her tasks as a mother as well as a working woman without any complaints and always smiles throughout the day from the time she wakes up in the morning until she goes to bed at night. She often advises me to use "a SMILE as my protection and a shield to overcome obstacles in life."

For all the good qualities, knowledge and talent that I inherit today it is because of my mother. As she was my first teacher, my true guide as I grew older and she'll always be my pillar of strength through every walk of life. She is a firm and strict woman with strong values and has brought me up in a disciplined as well as loving manner and has succeeded in turning me from a young girl into a young lady. She is the first one with the tissues when I feel low, the first to celebrate my success and my one and only counselor to help me deal with my shortcomings in life. She has always performed her duty as a mother to the best of her abilities and even loved and cared for me when I least deserved it and has been the best mother she could even when I haven't been the best daughter. Even though I have let her down and hurt her a million times she always found a way to forgive me. I seldom heed to her words of wisdom and advices but she continues guiding me, protecting me and comforting me everyday of my life.

After all the wonderful things she has done for me ever since the day I was born all I can say is "THANKYOU FOR BEING MY MOTHER" knowing this will mean the world to her. I hope I grow up to be a wonderful, loving and successful woman like my mother. My sole purpose of writing this story is to let my mother know that she is special and that I am proud to have a MAMA like her.

We seldom understand our mother's love for us and often don't realize how lucky we are to have mothers since there are millions of children around the world who don't have mothers to love them and care for them and teach them to live one day at a time. So, lets all treasure these great moments with our mothers and hug them and let them know how much they mean to us and close our eyes every night and thank God for blessing all of us the fortunate ones with angels like mothers in our lives.....since it is rightly said "GOD COULDN'T BE EVERYWHERE SO HE MADE MOTHERS."

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# _The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world._

# _William Ross Wallace (1819-1881_

# _U.S. Poet and Songwriter_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 51. The most influential person in my life – my mother

By Clewin Pinto

"Mother is the name for God in the lips and hearts of little children."

\- William M.

MOTHER - This word might sound very cool but only the woman upon who is bestowed this title actually knows the responsibilities she has to put up with, in bringing up her children. In fact someone has rightly said that since God could not be everywhere, he created mothers. When a girl-child is born, a mother is born and from that moment onwards, the mother sacrifices everything for her child. A mother is a gentle, forgiving first teacher at whose knee life's lessons are learned. She does not mind doing away with her beauty for the well-being of her child. Well, in this story, I would like to narrate how my mother has proved to be the most influential person in my life.

She has always stood beside me in times of joy as well as sorrow. She has always shown utmost patience in moments of tension as well as worry. She never loses her trust in her child. Well, this special woman is no one but my mother. My mother has sacrificed a lot for my sake since the day I was born.

My mother sacrificed her career for just our sake - me and my sister. She gave up her job at the peak of her career, though people did not approve of her doing this. She had even gone to work right before the day I was born. Who can give up one's career, it might seem. But she did it. Yes, she did it just for us. For the whole purpose of bringing us up by showering her love and blessings, she did it. She used to stay up late at night, reciting lullabies to me. Even then I only slept in the mornings, keeping her awake all night! Even then, she never complained.

She sets the example of a perfect womanly figure, a perfect mother. Most other mothers kept their children at the babysitter's. She truly is adorable, loving, caring and ever ready to sacrifice anything for our sake. I feel really blessed to have a mother like her. So my dear mom, I would want to tell you just one thing:

'To the world you might be just one person,

But to me, you mean the world.'

Thank you mom....

#

# Read on for more, or click here to return to the Contents Page

# 52. A daily gift for my angel

By Elina Lukose

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers on earth," is a very popular quote, but a story that speaks about its origin is not so popular. Well, I have one such story and it goes like this.

Once upon a time, God made Heaven and Earth. Heaven was full of angels and babies and the earth was empty. God wanted to send some of his dearest babies to earth. But he was worried because he had a problem. He had no clue as to how he would take care of all his children who would be in different places of the earth, and that too, at the same time. And of course God had solutions to all problems. He decided to appoint some of his beautiful, lovely angels to accompany each of the babies. The beauty of the angels was beyond words. Every baby had an angel to shower him/her with abundant love. And fortunately, I was one among the lucky babies. And do you know who that angel is? It is none other than my MOM.

Yes, in this journey of my life, when I have problems and when God is  
busy with my other brothers and sisters on earth, I have my mom to help me and guide me. When I am sad and God is busy comforting my other brothers and sisters on earth who are less fortunate than me, my mother is there to comfort me.

It has been 17 yrs now, since my first day on earth. And the amount of love and care that my mom has given me and is giving me now is, I think, even more than what God expected her to. These 17 yrs, I have changed so much but she hasn't. She looks past my flaws and loves me in spite of them. Each time I make a mistake, she loves me even more. I sometimes wonder from where she gets so much love to give me. Every moment with her is a special one. I believe that memories should be cherished with its full emotion. And if I write about the special moments I had with my mom, it would be impossible for me to express it in its complete emotion. But I would like to share just one thing. There's a special gift that I give my mom every day. Every morning, before I board the bus for school, I give her a kiss. It is nothing compared to the gifts she showers on me. But my kiss is special. It is an expression of my love for her. I'm just telling "I love you mom". If I miss it for one day, I'm disturbed that whole day. I cannot concentrate in school.

Every day I take some time to thank that great person who brought this amazing angel to my life. GOD, Thank you, A BIG BIG Thank you, because if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have got my mom. I consider myself to be the luckiest daughter in the world to have a mother like mine. I love you mom.

#

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# 53. The voice of silence

By Fahima Abdul Aziz

"A Mother, before, during and after the dream."

"What happened, my dear?" I looked up at my mother's face. I was shivering. "I...I saw a bad dream" I stammered. Mother switched off the light and lay down close to me, the 17 year old. "Didn't you say your prayer?" mother asked. Yes, I had forgotten. Mother had taught it to me when I was young. Then I used to believe that bad dreams come only when mother wasn't close to me.

Gradually my fear faded away. I recalled what happened that day. I was woken up by mother in the morning. There was hardly ten minutes for my school-bus to arrive. All my siblings who had woke up earlier left soon. I was furious and yelled at mother. Disappointed, I returned to bed quietly crying thinking that mother cared only for my siblings. But, minutes later mother came to me saying that she has arranged a taxi. I dressed up grumpily. While leaving, mother followed me till the gate with my youngest sister in one arm and my lunchbox in her other hand, but I refused to take it and snapped at her.

In school, when my friend asked, "why didn't you bring your mother's puri (an Indian bread)?" I could only stare speechless at the sandwich I had bought from the school canteen. My mother's was the tastiest food, it was flavored with love. The whole morning she had spent cooking. Her affection for her seven children had cast away her sleep. She had realized that I was sleeping only after she finished cooking. I was filled with regret.

When I returned from school she was at the door smiling. I felt relieved. Had she forgotten everything? After a hearty lunch I retired for my siesta. When I woke up at four, mother kindly asked me to prepare the dinner and left for an important meeting.

After she left I enjoyed five hours continuously. Mother had returned by the time I entered kitchen. She quietly started preparing dinner. Her silence disturbed me. I just wished she scolded me.

Suddenly I woke up from my thoughts. My mother's fingers were moving softly through my hair. I wanted to ask forgiveness. I twisted restlessly. "Again a bad dream?" my mother's voice broke the silence. I couldn't speak. I just hugged her and slowly fell into the world of good dreams.

#

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# 54. Amma – My guardian angel

By Grace Sarah John

It is every interview question, 'Who is your inspirer?" Many candidates would go through an unending list of people precious in their lives. My answer would be two words, "My Mother."

Here I am, applying for my first job. Who am I? And where do I come from? This is my story.

I was an unwanted child. My father was a staunch believer in male domination and has cursed the day I entered this cold world. I was surrounded by 3 other siblings, all boys! I was the waste of time, the waste of money and especially, the waste of food. I had only one by my side then, my faithful mother.

It was my brothers who got up at 7 am to get dressed for school. Me, I woke up at 5 am to milk the cows and make breakfast. The option of school was a sore subject, when it regarded me! My father did not flinch and wouldn't let me step out of the house. "It is not proper for a girl to be seen in public", he used to say. My mother, belonging to an educated family, fought for my education rights, but to no avail. It was only when the men had left the house and the door had been locked, did Amma open doors of mysteries to me. Opening my eyes to see the wonders of the world, the reason why bread rose when baked and how little cows suddenly appear in the sheds next to the big cows. Those were times of excitement and thrill, enjoying our study time and running to hide the books at the first sound of father's footsteps.

Then came the fateful day, when I was called in from the shed to hurry into the house. I found my mother and my three brothers kneeling by the bed, begging Father not to leave. He had influenza. Before a week had passed, my father was gone. I remember in bits and pieces the days that flew by after that. There was mourning and black everywhere. Everyone came to me and started weeping all over my hair. But to me, it was just living a life with one person less at the dining table!

Life went on. There was a different tune to it, though. Amma had to work harder and this time it had to pay for my school fees as well. I was well above average at school thanks to our daily study times. Years passed and before I knew it, she made sure I enrolled into college. It was like a dream I thought would never come true. What did my brothers think about all this? Well, they had much to say at the beginning but they came to accept my position in the family. I studied Law and five years later, here I am, an educated fresh Lawyer with one desire. The desire to fight for the rights of girls like me, the right to equality and education!

That is why I am telling my story. I was a girl considered unworthy of a place at the table. But now, I am an educated individual owing all I am and ever will be to one person, Amma.

#

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# 55. Chef mother

By Maimoona Rahman

Mummy Dearest,

"I drink to your health because ever since I was a little thing in your womb, you've ensured that I don't "suffer" when ill with your playful and hilarious wings hovering over me. Thank you very much Mom!"

Anyway, I've just concluded that you're the most deserving mother for the Best Mum Award. Congratulations! You've made me proud!

Oh yes, the number of times I've heard, "You've made me proud" flow from your lips like divine pearls raining straight from Paradise are yet to be my acquaintances . Thank you very much for the encouragement.

Nevertheless, it's not those words that have earned you the award. It's, confetti please, your food! I know you use food to show you care and you love me in spite of all the havoc I wreak. Three cheers to you. You've all along known how to influence yours truly, the Glutton. Oh, I can almost see your eyebrows arch as though to ask "How do you know?"! Mum, that's a story for a rainy day.

Remember the first time you cooked Butter Chicken, which was a grand success with me? I know you took to cooking it yourself because you wanted to quell my craving for Tandoor's Butter Chicken. You've always been indifferent to eating out: "Too unhealthy...You never know whether or not they washed their hands..." I respect your indifference because it only symbolizes your concern for my health, and because you love me you make me feel grand and loved by cooking it on all special occasions (read on birthdays and new years). I now know why you always cook the ultra-hot and spicy Bangladeshi Achar Lamb every time I catch a cold; #1: the chilies are conducive to recuperating from colds, and #2: I love to eat it. Going hungry or unfed even when I take ill has never been an option for me! And though broccoli tops my hate list, I always relish the way you cook it-minced, finely boiled and fried, and sautéed with pepper and garlic.

In the kitchen you're always busy cooking new ways of teaching me the simple lesson-"Influence people by showing you care!" I love you for this lesson.

With heartiest love, hugs and kisses,

Mamna.

P.S.  
The other day Shinoy foolishly claimed that his mother is the best cook in the world. He's insane! You're the one and only "Chef Mum"!

#

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# 56. May God bless you dear

By Mansoor Saadat Hamid

"It is said that Paradise lies at the foot of your mother, and I firmly believe in it, for we are what we are because of our mothers."

My family and I lived in a small village called Trincomalee in an island south of India called Sri Lanka. Life was pleasant until one day when the LTTE rebels came to my house and shot my father I remember the sound of the bullet as if it happened only yesterday it took my father's life along with it. My poor mother was so scared that she quickly grabbed me and begged for mercy from the rebels. They said that they would not hurt us but yet they took all of our valuables and left us as poor as a beggar. I remember that night when my mother cried a lot trying to comfort me even when she had lost her husband. I remember seeing the head of the mosque taking my father's body away and that was the last time I saw it. For around three weeks we suffered a lot without food my mother used to cut firewood from the forest and sell enough to feed two for a day.

On days when the food was scanty she would sacrifice her share for me and stay hungry, because she loved me more then her own health.

When the time came for me to go to school she sold our only asset the goat and she bought materials required for school. when I was about ten years old there was a bomb blast near my house and everybody was fleeing for their lives, someone had told my mother that the rebel tigers had come to raid our houses and take young boys to join the war as a rebel soldier, my poor mother nearly died when she heard that, she took me and the little money we had left and we ran for our lives till we could get a train to Kandy where my relatives took us in and sheltered us.

There was no chance of going back to my village, so mother tried to put me a school in Kandy but it was too expensive, she went and pleaded with the principal for me until he allowed me to join the school. I studied hard and got very good results making my mother happy. When my friends got good marks their parents would buy them, presents. So I foolishly went and asked my mother to buy me something when she had no money, but she did not want to disappoint me so she went out looking for a job where she found a place where they make bricks. She learned the art of making it and sold enough to buy me a pencil box with Micky mouse picture on it. I was overjoyed never realizing how much she had to suffer for it.

When I was around seventeen the LTTE rebels were wiped out and my village was once again peaceful. So we decided to go back home but it was no longer there as it was completely destroyed by the war. For weeks we suffered a lot without a shelter until the government provided us with a big tent.

After about a year I got a scholarship to study medicine in Colombo. One day while I was in Colombo my mother met with an accident and was critical. I rushed to the hospital and went into her room where she was covered in blood and all she could do was smile and say "May God bless you dear" for she died soon after she said that.

Later the doctor handed me an envelope saying that my mother wanted me to have it, I took it and opened it with trembling hands it contained a letter which ran:

Darling Izzan

Don't forget God, pray 5 times a day without fail. Don't ever give up your studies. I'm sorry I had to leave you, please forgive me my darling.

Look after yourself and may god bless you

With love,

Affectionately,

Mama

A tear drop rolled down from my eyes for the mother who loved me selflessly was now gone.......

A mother's unconditional love cannot be replaced.

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# 

# Some mothers are kissing mothers and some are scolding mothers, but it is love just the same, and most mothers kiss and scold together.

# Pearl S. Buck

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 57. A mother is a mother - forever

**By** **Meghna Dipaksinh Jadav  
** _"As I sit to pen down my thoughts for my special mother, I feel to loose myself and go past my memory lane..."_

My birth itself wasn't good news to many. I belong to a caste that holds high importance on the beauty of girls. A girl child born is usually not very encouraging in the family as the father has to start saving money for the girls' marriage, her studies, bringing her up when one day she has to join other person's house leaving the memories and 'her own' people behind.

I am from a middle class family. The below stories include the times I spent in Gujarat in India.

In India, I was living in a flat and a congested society. My dad has a brown color complexion, and mother is quite fair on the other hand. But when I was born, it seems that I was too dark and my own natives showed a dull face that conveyed "a girl child and that too so dark?" Of course, my mother felt sad and she cried also, but you see, she made every attempt to make me the best human in our family. I was made to bath with pure and neem water every day put all the natural herbs to bring out a beautiful girl in me. But no one knew that my mother believed in inner beauty and smartness. She insisted on putting me in an English medium school rather than a native language-Gujarati school.

My father knew English and helped me in my work and my mother too made an attempt to learn and teach me though she was a housewife.

When I was in 3rd, I used to get a lot of beatings from my father for not learning things. This was because of his vow to make me smart and active. He used to lock me and himself along with the books and once I was beaten so hard that my neighbours too heard the sound outside and my dad was screaming at me. My mother came running inside to see me. A silent tear rolled down my cheek. (There were many feelings, but who did I have to share it with? The answer was my own mother) she called me out and encouraged me to just try with full heart and presence of mind to learn the lesson. My dad too feeling pity to see me weeping got water for me and the lessons continued. I tried learning first. Didn't get it. Once again, it still did not work out but third time, I did it! Why do you think this happened? It was because of my will to do it, inspired by my mother.

Oh, I miss those lovely days, when my mother used to play with me and every Sunday was a time to visit a friend's house. I enjoyed school life in India very well. Every now and then my mother's lessons helped me come up and she tried her best to bring out my best. She always wanted to see me at the top of the hill of success, but I as such never won any price for her that made her feel proud. And I always felt very guilty about it and never shared it with her but kept trying like the way I'm doing now.

Instead, there were times when I went to her weeping, complaining of my friend's ignorance, my dad scolding me for being manner less at times. But my mother's soft heart would just listen to it saying it's all right and silently blessing me. She gave me the courage to fight back, face the situations when there were all odds.

Oh, I still remember when she caught me stealing. When my dad tried stealing for the first time, he was brutally beaten. But my case was different. My mother just posed one question to me that changed my habit for once and forever. She asked--"whatever you want or wanted I'll give you and I have given you. Then, what makes you steal?" she said sadly. Though I was just in 6th grade, I could feel her pain and her worry to see me changing from a good girl to a bad girl. This question left no value for money to me and taught me the lesson of 'courage to accept my mistake'. And I proudly say that I have never ever cheated my mother after this incident.

Coming to the teenage, till now, there is never a day that I leave for school without seeing her. She makes me smile or laugh at least before I go to school early in the morning. And that's what is special about her. In this fast life, children battle with time to see their mother and spend time with her, and I am the one who has ample of time to stare at her.

Friends, if you truly have someone in your lives to care for, and to show your love to, it's your mother for rich or poor, for lucky or unlucky, for a businessman or a cobbler, a mother is a mother.

Someone who is always besides you to celebrate your victory, to share sorrow, and to be with you at all times and never leave your side. My mother has given me hope to do more, to win more and to love more.

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# He is a poor son whose sonship does not make him desire to serve all men's mothers.

# Harry Emerson Fosdick

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 58. She is happy

By Nadine Patricia Martin

"There was time when she could do no wrong, a time when things were simple and effortless and seemingly less complicated between us."

I'd fall and she'd place a plaster over my wound. I'd cry and she'd give me a hug, secretly wiping a tear from her cheek as she pulled away; she hated seeing me hurting, or discontent and little did she know, I hated seeing her sad, too. I was young and if it weren't for those plasters or those shared sobs, I would never have realized how much we were alike. I was always my mother's daughter.

I was about four in my home city of Cape Town, South Africa, when I first saw my mother cry, and this time, it was for a reason I couldn't fully grasp. It was my grandfather's funeral and the church was crowded with somber faces all towering over me, and my mother held my hand. I knew that as long as she had her glistening eye on me, I would be okay. Today, however, her glistening eye was missing its sparkle, its joy; something I loved staring at because that meant everything was fine, just fine. Today was different. We arrived at my grandparents' house after the procession and various people of different ages were eating and drinking and talking about what an amazing man my grandfather had been. It was the first time my mother had let go of my hand. Frantically searching each room, I wiped the cake crumbs from the corners of my mouth; she would be proud. I heard faint sobs and my dad whispered softly, 'It will be okay.' I peeked into the pastel green room, and found my mother and father, their backs facing me. She was crying. I stood in the doorway, transfixed and numb. The usual Sunday morning glow was no longer golden or yellow or happy. Instead, blue rays of light reflected on my new sandals, and I felt empty, and even the sun had changed. She was important.

I was screaming. My throat burned and ached and I only wanted it to end. I was five and she was there. My tonsils had been removed and I felt as though a Samurai sword had been stuck down my throat. The memory of exactly how this happened remains vaguely a blur of colour except for the look on her face as she watched me scramble for relief. She too, was aching. I clung onto her red pullover for hours waiting for some sign that it would soon be over. Through the commotion and pain, her face was the only constant thing that meant I would be fine. My mother could conquer the world to keep me safe and she would, and somewhere deep down, I always knew that.

It was the day my best friend and I had an argument and I felt crushed. Perhaps how a fly felt between the folds of a rolled newspaper or how a bird felt without any wings. Friends were an important part of who I was and having none, meant I was missing a part of myself. I cried on my mother's soaked shoulder as she talked me through it, friend after friend. It was a talk that my mom and I had often because I just had a knack for those who were completely different to me. 'You remind me of myself,' she would say wiping my wet face with her warm hands. 'I was there too, and I've learnt not to give other people power over my happiness. Only you are responsible for that.' She was right, then again, she always was.

We always sat in the kitchen, having endless conversations about her past as we stirred and kneaded and mixed. She shared with me a part of her life that affected most from our community, Apartheid. It was devastating to hear how she wouldn't be allowed to enter restaurants through the front entrance or how her family could never sit in the first carriage of a train. I listened intently thinking 'Who wouldn't allow my mother anything. She was gorgeous and smart and funny.' That was before I understood the dynamics of life back then, and now, I realize why and how my mother rose above. She's the strongest person I know.

She taught me to walk when I thought I could only crawl. She taught me to laugh when things got too much. She taught me always to hold my head high, even when I failed. She taught me to be bold, even when I felt small. She taught me to love, when everything seemed to be falling apart. My mother inspired me to become so much more, so much better than I ever thought I would be and I know, I just know, the sun shines bright yellow for her now, for everything is okay. She is happy.

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# _You may have tangible wealth untold; Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold. Richer than I you can never be — I had a mother who read to me._

# _Strickland Gillian (1869-1954)_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 59. Another day without mother

By Najiya Muhyidheen Abdul Rahman

"Waking up in the morning is one of the hardest things in my life. It's been even harder for me since the last two months, and so have been many other things."

I was born and brought up to this day by my parents in the state of Qatar (this might explain my inseparable bond to this burning hot piece of land) the 45-50 degree Celsius climate, growing technology and popularity of this modern day desert with it's huge hypermarkets, beaches, amusement parks and it's well kept heritage with a mix of cultures by residents from all over the world is something that I've always marveled at. I'm sixteen years of age and one of seven children born to my parents. We are Indians settled here in Qatar like thousands of other families from all around the world in search of better job opportunities available to us in this oil reaping 'rich piece of land'.

How our mother tends to our needs is one fact that I know she puts a lot of effort into, to keep us together and teach us how to get along with each other. As long as I can remember she has always been very protective, concerned and absolutely watchful of where we are, what we do, eat and drink once we enter out teenage (that doesn't mean we are let loose before this stage, I'm just expressing the range of stress given to this special age group by most mums like mine)

Recently my mum decided to leave us with our father so that she could stay with her elderly parents in India for a while. My joy can only be imagined! All I could think of, was 'MONTHS OF FUN! TAKING MY OWN DECISIONS AND HAVING MEALS OF MY OWN CHOICE!' and many other things that went with 'my concept of freedom'.

The first few days without my mum, the experience of leaving home with no one to rush us out and coming home from school to the silent house in the evening were new, it felt a little different rather than 'splendidly different', as I had wanted it to be. It wasn't long after she left that I felt it, the feeling that I had forgotten I had in me, and it changed my whole concept and attitude towards the words, 'MY MUM'.

I missed seeing her face every morning before I left for school, I hated coming back from school to that dry house, I dreaded entering our silent kitchen which was once filled with my mother's voice and I was confused. Of course I had my father and siblings but it didn't fill in for that one thing in my life that had disappeared from around me all of a sudden. I missed my mother like never before, In her absence I realized what it meant to have a mother, I saw what she really was in my life, what I had hesitated to see...her love, care and untold closeness had never once truly and seriously thought or given myself a chance to look at what my mother 'was' rather than what she wasn't. Yes, she was protective, concerned and watchful...but I'd never once looked at it the way she did, to keep me safe and sound only out of immense love...I missed her presence in my life more than anything else...

And every morning when I wake up I find it hard to face the world without my mother's fairy touch to my life...and when I go to bed each night I pray with all my heart to the Almighty, 'please keep my mum safe and sound, help us both bear this separation with a little more ease and bring her back into my life as soon as possible'...and I wish that I'd always known her value when I close my eyes, hoping to wake up to a better day...

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# 60. Unforgettable

By Noora Shifa

## "God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."

## - Jewish Proverb

My mom's name is Rajula and she is the best mom I have ever seen!!!....You all will agree with me when you read this story...

Now I'm 16 and this incident happened 3 years back in Qatar. My mom works as a secretary in a Government Hospital in Qatar. One day, I woke up early for school, brushed my teeth and did everything as normal. But, while I was putting my uniform, my mom started yelling at me saying that "What are you doing????? YOU ARE SLOWER THAN A SLOTH....!!!! Then while I was eating my breakfast she said "Again!!! You have made a mess!!!! Haven't you learned how to eat by yourself yet???? YOU ARE THIRTEEN, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!! "To be honest, I really did everything as customary but my mom found fault in everything I did that day.

Even after coming from school also she found all the microscopic faults in me and shouted for everything. After doing my homework, I began doing some craft work. That made her really mad and yelled at me so badly that I began to cry. I was so deeply hurt because I have never seen my mom so angry and infuriated.

Later that night after dinner, she was doing some work in her computer in her room. I went to her room and she said "What do you want now??? Can't you let me have some peace of mind??? BUGS ME ALL THE TIME!!!!"I stood next to her and kept my craft work on her table, kissed her on her cheek and ran to my bedroom. The craft work was a Mother's Day card that I made for her....

That night I couldn't sleep at all. But at approximately 2:30 am, I heard my bedroom door open. I believed in ghosts at that time so I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. Then I heard someone crying. It was mom. She sat next to me and whispered, stroking my cheeks "I'm so sorry my love. I was hard on you today and I'm really-really sorry about that. I was so stressed out with the work at office and my boss was annoyed at me. You were the poor little victim whom I found to let loose my strain on. I promise I'll never do that again sweetie...I love you and always have...forgive your mom. Will you darling?" Then she kissed my forehead. I could feel her hot tears on my cheek. She even slept next to me and hugged me tight.

That was the day I really understood the raw tenacity of a love that unshakable, that deep and pure. I and my mom always remember that on Mother's Day and other days as well. I sometimes see her smile to herself and when I used to ask her about it she would say "Today I had a bad day at work but I feel so happy and you are the reason for it because when I remember that unforgettable wild day, all my frenzied days become exceptional days for me. Thank you for that honey".

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# 61. Not just another lady

By Priya Varughese

"Fancy words would not help me when it comes to describing my mother. And I wouldn't prefer beginning with how great she is either."

Well, having a real naughty teenager as your daughter is not a very easy task and it certainly isn't going to be fun. A girl who dreams of becoming a singer one day, a girl who comes home doesn't even bother to change her uniform, a girl who doesn't even have lunch with her parents because she thinks she won't get any time to watch a movie in her busy schedule, a girl who doesn't take bath on time, a girl who forgets most of the stuff she's supposed to do, a girl who even forgets her real close friend's birthday, a girl who waste's most of her time attending calls. Now that's what I'm talking about. A real Teenager. And that's me!

Whereas my mom, Mrs. PERFECT. She's got a full paying job, her husbands still with her. A daughter who everyone thinks is "PERFECT" (who apparently is not) and life insurance. But she's definitely not healthy. She wakes up early in the morning, prepares breakfast, goes for work and comes back real tired. She can't even speak because she knows that her daughter will just turn the music up and ignore. She's scared whether her daughter will make it, whether her daughter will become someone great for the world to remember. A lot of things leave her disturbed half the day and she puts up all the anger on her daughter and due to which, both are never in good terms. I can never be perfect like my mother wants me to be. I try but she never listens. According to her, I'm the "black sheep". She never speaks to me about what she feels as she thinks consumption of non-vegetarian dishes has made me stone hearted. And it's only God who knows the reason behind that assumption.

My mom runs away from Life. She really does. For example: if she reads in a newspaper article about a boy who drowned in the sea during a school tour, she fears to send me anywhere. But I understand it is normal for a mother, especially with just one daughter to go through that phase. I've never heard from my mom that "Child, I'm proud to have you" although I try a lot. I've cried every single day of my life because I can never reach up to my mother's expectations. But I want to let her know that I do LOVE her more than anything in my life. I really do. But as God plays his games at the right time (sarcastic), He's chosen me as that "one out of a million" person whose life he can lavishly play with. My time's limited. My mom's not keeping well. And the last I want to lose, is her. But when in my whole life can I prove it to her that I really do love her and it's just that she never realized? Mom, I love you.

For all mothers in the world, this is a personal note on behalf of all struggling teenagers:

"Ma, We might not wish you a "HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY", we might not always keep our grades up, we might not be as disciplined as you want us to be, but please don't give up on us. We're still trying. And one day we'll make you smile. WE LOVE YOU"

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# 62. My mother – my mentor, my motivator and my guru

By Sana Khan

"My mother has always played a very vital and crucial role in my life. She has always made me feel that I am special to her."

My mother was a teacher in the school where I study. Being a teacher, she always wanted everything to be perfect, her children to be well-mannered, well dressed and above all, best in their class.

From my very childhood, I was disobedient. I never used to pay attention to any word told to me by my parents. My father being a businessman has to stay out of town frequently. So, my mother used to spend most of the time with me and my brother.

Not that I wasn't close to my mother, I felt she always used to correct me and never appreciated me. Due to this I always felt that I should prove that even I can win and make her proud.

Being a refined public speaker, my mother has always encouraged me to participate in inter-house or inter-school contests, helped me regularly with my tests or exams, taken the pain to send me to good teachers for tuitions so that I can benefit from them and I think only due her efforts and encouragement have I won those competitions and passed my boards with flying colors.

My mother, till she was working in the same school, trained many students to take part in speech contests. Looking at them, even I used to feel like participating and making my parents happy and proud. So, from my 5th grade onwards I started taking part in speech contests under the coaching and guidance of my mother and I have brought laurels to my school.

When I was in the 7th grade, my mother was sent to Muscat for the evaluation of CBSE Board Papers. This was the first time I was separating from her. A few days before she left, she called me and my small brother aside and told us how important it was for her to go. She lovingly instructed us to take care of each other, particularly me, being the eldest of the two, was advised to take care of the little one. She said "I ought to be like a mother towards my brother in her absence." These words are still etched on my mind and I am constantly reminded of my duty towards my brother. Not only that, I learnt to obey her and felt the importance of a loving mother during the fortnight of her absence from home.

I know of the sacrifices she has made for our family. I have learnt to love my family, to be obedient, organized and disciplined in my ways.

Mother, you shall always be special for me!!!

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# 63. Gradual mother

By Shruthi Mathai

"Being a promising student she always expected to get what she worked for until someone forcefully took that pride and her virginity away from her......"

She hesitated before typing in her number she knew the marks wouldn't be what she felt she deserved...what she was capable of....but she felt a sudden surge of unreasonable pride just knowing that. Deep breath.... better than what she expected. The day before, she had happened to come across her childhood friend's marks 92% math 91%social.....then she wondered what went wrong in her own life. Angrily she remembered the incident that changed her destiny. Being a promising student she always expected to get what she worked for until someone forcefully took that pride and her virginity away from her......

"Why me? Why me? "She couldn't comprehend- with hot tears gushing down her face. During pregnancy she was tired and cursed herself for having a baby who she knew in the back of her mind her child contained half her and half her tormentor. Her relatives wanted her to abort the baby which she and her parents found unthinkable. But when the baby was born she felt strangely ecstatic and relieved.

After, the first few days of incessant crying her baby was a cheerful healthy blob of energy. She found that she was attached to that little face before giving the child up to a childless, desperate couple (whom she carefully handpicked). Pain even more than the previous most painful experience in her life engulfed her as she handed her child to the eager couple with trembling arms.

Her own schooling had suffered a terrible blow but now she made sure she worked at it even more than before. But catching up with her classmates now seemed like a distant dream. But she worked at it... She was slow, unsteady but determined. Her board results were disappointing and her confidence dipped to an all time low. The comments from people were never ending.

"Such a bright student....poor thing"

"Amazing strength...I can't imagine"

"She had the child?!"

The unfairness of it all overwhelmed her and her fragile confidence tipped.

Her parents never left her side always supporting her, holding her close as she cried in anguish. After a few weeks she came out stronger but still vulnerable.

One day she visited her baby like she did everyday (part of the terms the couple had agreed upon) and he had uttered his first word "Amma"(mother) looking in her direction before his attention drifted to his colorful toys.

She repeated her 10th grade this time she gave it her all and her results lived up to her expectations.

They had named him Aditya .She didn't object, she hadn't decided on the name anyway. She grew to like it. She loved the way he used to respond to her calls with raised eyebrows...then his unexpected laughter. The couple never objected to her visiting him...they were very old almost 60.They adored the baby and treated her like a part of the family. She was content...or at least she was sure he was in safe arms and his foster mother doted on him. She convinced herself she had tried her best for him and the couple could give him more than she could give him now.

She passed her 12th with good marks and she was sure she could secure a seat in any college of her liking. She chose the college which was closest to the couple's house.

In college she fell in love with a batch mate. She was apprehensive of the way he would react if he knew about Aditya. She confided in him, he was shocked and fled without a word. Upset she refused to attend class that day and stayed at home distracting herself with thoughts of Aditya.

She got up from bed and went to visit him. Now he was a naughty, bubbly 4 year old and he called her "Akka"(elder sister). She had made him some laddus (sweets) and watched him gorge it down without a look in her direction. She laughed and kissed his grubby cheeks.

After lectures she used to work part time to pay for her tuitions. So she could only visit him once in two weeks. As time moved on She met someone who understood her, cared for her, loved her despite everything. She took him with her to visit Aditya, they instantly got along. And she got married.

Now, Aditya was a teenager and he confided in her, loved her and some times got into heated fights with her. He was a shy, bright child who knew how to make her laugh with funny imitations of his teachers.

She taught him how to treat girls and how to be a perfect gentleman. He came to her to help him in math and day to day problems. On the day of Aditya's graduation, she was a proud mother of a baby girl and a talented boy for who she fought a lifelong battle to raise.

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# _The role of a mother is probably the most important career a woman can have._

# _Janet Mary Riley_

# _U.S. Lawyer and Writer_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 64. A tribute to my mother

By Sneha Balan

"Whenever I need a shoulder to lean on, I always find my mother with me as a friend."

I am very close to my mother, a very special lady who is my dearest friend as well as a wonderful mother. She tells me stories of her childhood which always enthralled me as life was so different then. I also learnt a great deal about coping with hardships, surviving against the odds, as well as feeling closer to my mother.

My mother was born in a small town, Palani in Tamilnadu, India. She has two sisters and one brother. My grandfather was doing business and they were well off at that time. My grandmother was a home maker and their life was very smooth. My mother did well at school. When she was ten years old, my grandfather lost everything in business and he was forced to sell all the properties to pay off his debts. Unable to bear the loss, my grandfather fell ill. My mother, though she was young, had a strong will. She along with her brother and sisters made craft items and sold them to the neighbors. Every waking moment was filled with work and responsibilities to keep the family in good condition.

My grandmother asked help from her brother-in-laws but everyone turned deaf ear to her. My mother and all had one time meal only. During festival times, they had a free meal at the temple. My mother completed 9th standard in school and they all had decided to move to Madurai, the temple city. There they lived in a small house and my mother took tuitions to small children in the evenings to earn money. My grand father also joined as a clerk in some office.

My mother completed her SSLC (10th grade) and joined in an evening college. During the day time, she worked in a Xerox photocopy service company as an operator for a meager salary of Rs.6/- per day. She worked there for one year and then she joined in a typewriter company as a clerk for Rs.250/- per month. My mother completed her B.A., M.A., and wrote Tamil Nadu Government Public Service Commission examination and got the First rank and was posted in the Education Department as a Junior Assistant. Financially she supported her family. She had a determination not to surrender herself before anyone. Her sisters and brother also completed their studies and settled down in life.

My mother did not think of any thing until she reached her goals and it took her twenty years to reach that goal. I used to admire her strong will, determination, helping tendency and these things added to her beauty. Whenever I need a shoulder to lean on, I always find my mother with me as a friend; whenever I want to play, she is always there as my brother and sister; She is always there for me, she is my whole world. How blessed am I to have been born to such a wonderful mother. I hope her strength and wisdom always guide me. I think this is the real tribute to my mother.

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# 65. My mother... my angel

By Yasmeen Gul Khan

"One great reason that inspired me the most was her positive attitude she gave me."

My mother is a Filipina who married my father, a Pakistani, 19 years ago here in Qatar. My mothers name is Mariam Gul Khan. She had always wanted to watch me and my two little brothers grow up happily and becoming successful beings one day.

Growing up here in Qatar with the whole family including my 2 loving step-brothers and step-sisters who are my mother's children from her first husband was a great leap for her, because her main reason to coming here before was only to work and earn a living for her family back in the Philippines.... But now she's become even more successful than that.

My mother encourages sports for girls here in Qatar especially cricket. Women's cricket started 2 years ago and she is the women's coordinator. Most of the parents don't allow their daughters to take part in such sports because of some reasons but my mother would always try talking to them and hold herself responsible if anything happens to them. My mom always told them... "I treat the girls as how I treat Yasmeen. If they did something wrong I'd get angry to them. They are all the same to me". That's why parents feel that their daughters are always safe when "Mrs. Mariam" is around... even the girls feels that way... they'd always tell me how lucky I am to have a mom like her.

One great reason that inspired me the most was her positive attitude she gave me. At times she is strict to me and I always thought it was because she hated me but I was wrong... she actually wanted to put discipline and self consciousness in me. I love my mother so much... because she really cares for me and I do the same to her. She never wanted anyone to be in sorrow and she'd do anything for us to regain our joy... She always catches me whenever I fall... She's always by my side not only as a mother but also as a friend.

So dear readers... before its too late, tell your mother how much you love her. Always remember that what mothers do are always for our best.

"MOMMY I LOVE YOU!"

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# 66. Grains of sand

By Rajeev Balakrishnan

"A son's memories of days that will never return, as he shifts through the grains of sand in his hand."

He sat forlorn, looking at the water lapping the bank as though it were trying to erase an unknown hurt. Thoughts raced across his mind with alarming speed. It was but a few hours since he had been orphaned. Would the sun rise the next day, would the birds chatter and get busy with their life as usual? No, he decided nature would mourn his loss and then life would come to a standstill. How could his mother abandon him when he needed her the most, how could his father to whom he looked for inspiration just slip away as if he were unreal? There must be some way that the clock could be turned back, some way that life would go back to those happy days.

'Mone! Mone..Rajeeva, Lunch has been served, where are you', mother was searching for him. She had been a symbol of hospitality ever since he could remember. Used to coming up with impromptu recipes that were simple and mouth watering at the same time. He looked forward to the simple meal of curd rice and the mango chutney that could be so relishing and divine. She played the perfect host and divided her time between the puja room, kitchen and the garden in a house that had become a landmark for the artistic people. 'After you are through with your lunch, father has asked you to get some karumuru items for the evening. There will be a drama rehearsal on the terrace. Lot of people would be coming from the club.' She announced matter of factly.

Father would be waiting with the list and money and be enthused and pumped about the evening to follow. "Just make sure that all the chairs have been placed in a semi circle by 6.30.p.m., they will all start coming by 7.00.p.m. The glasses, soda and scotch need to be brought up by 7.30.p.m. only.' He would give all the instructions with a child like enthusiasm. These were the evenings that one could see the master at work. He had a keen sense of drama; humour and timing that would keep the lesser mortals like us just stand and admire his versatility. Mother would be in the kitchen preparing small snacks for the evening of creative pursuit and the mango salad was indeed what was really special.

Slowly the house would burst into a sea of activity as the sun would descend into the western horizon. Servants would bring the chairs and the cushions with a degree of resignation knowing that they would have to cart it down late night after the crowd had dispersed. First to arrive would be fathers designated sishyas who would be the prompters and the assistant directors, the main cast would follow soon thereafter. Father would come up looking regal and fresh after his evening bath with the single line of bhasmam on his forehead. Every one would greet him with reverence and genuine affection and await instructions from him. The evening would unfold as a testimony to the inherent genius of that man. Within the next few hours he would coax, encourage, transform even the duds to raise their acting capabilities. It was all too awe inspiring for the young Rajeev. The voices were fading away.

'Plonk'.a bird dropped a stone into the river and almost shocked out of his reverie Rajeev looked at the ripples that were disappearing. Life had begun a new chapter that seemed to be forced on him by that invincible villain - FATE. All at once it seemed unreal and real at the same moment. He wanted to crawl back into the comfort zone of the past where father, mother, laughter and joy seemed to be the order of the day. Uncertain of where he was heading he grasped the grains of sand on the banks as though they were the links to the world of his past perfect. He dreaded closing his eyes knowing fully well he would be transported back into the past but then that seemed more certain than the future. It was safer than confronting the words of sympathy and solace that people would offer and make him weep, all over gain. He willed his eyes shut and the silence enveloped his grief with a tenderness that caressed his soul and entire being. He slept dreamlessly on the banks of the river.

The sun was casting its first rays with hesitation when he woke up to footfalls; people seemed to be calling out for him from a distance. He rubbed his groggy eyes and stretched out with finality as the comfort of sleep finally deserted him. Reality hit him with a force that shocked him, the day had conspired to dawn and the birds were up in the sky almost mocking at him derisively. As tears welled up in his eyes with an impotent rage a group of his relatives descended on him abruptly. "Where were you last night, none of us have slept a wink worried stiff about where you were. If you ever repeat this."

He looked up to see a threatening glare from his domineering uncle who had a black and white attitude of life. You had to be in either of these squares - good v/s evil. It could not be grey; never could it be any other color either since life fell into those squares of preconceived notions. Sighing Rajeev trudged his way though the sand bed wondering what the chapter of life had to throw at his face. He could hear a voice in the background "he acts as though only he has lost his mother in this world." It seemed like the voice of the society casting its vote on his thought process. Weary and helpless he looked back to see if there was empathy in the eyes of the onlookers, instead all that he could see was a look of contempt and artificiality. If only someone could hold him and comfort him with kind words. If only mother was still there to run her benevolent hands on his head, if only father was still there to conjure up happy images from the past, 'if only' suddenly seemed to be the mantra repeating itself over and over again along with his heart beats.

All that seemed eons ago, as Rajeev now in the twilight of his life sifted the grains of sand through his hands in the same banks of the river. Life since then had unraveled a maze of friendship, treachery, misfortune and luck in different measures much like the particles of sand in his hand - unique and so very different from one another. He understood in that instance of flashing brilliance what had seemed like the end then had been the beginning of a whole new chapter of existence. Time had healed the wounds of separation and pieced together what one could loosely term as life. Just like the countless others who had sat on the banks of this river since time immemorial in agony and ecstasy he felt at peace with the universe. He knew one day even his ashes would sift on the banks of the river and maybe join with the grains of sand which through the ages had become immortal.

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# 67. Memories of mother – my true life angel

By Martha Jette

A daughter's memory of her mom, who became a new part of her life, having spent early days in the orphanage, and now she could not be separated from her or her memories, because her mother 'loved her too much'.

I may be pushing 60 but I still think back some 40 years to a woman who, for me, was a real life angel.

I first laid eyes on Vera when I was an orphan of 7 years old. Just two weeks before, I'd experienced a vision in which a man appeared in what seemed to be a television set in the upper corner of my tiny room in the foster home. He was singing the most beautiful song and I thought he must be an angel. I was extremely depressed at the time, since I'd seen so many children being adopted – but not me. Did this 'angel' appear to comfort me, bring me a message of hope or what?

Two weeks later, I was taken from the foster home to the children's aid to get a new outfit. That just never happened, so I knew something big was about to happen to me. Before I knew it, a man drove up in a big, blue Oldsmobile. I was told to hop in the passenger seat. I didn't know this man and as he drove, he didn't say anything. When we finally arrived at a lovely ranch-style house, I stepped out of the car. As I strode up the long driveway with my Raggedy Ann doll clutched tightly under one arm, there she was! She looked stunning in her breezy summer dress \- hair shining silver in the sunlight. I will never forget how warmly she welcomed me and how very excited she was.

"Oh, darn it! I have to use the sandbox again!" she squealed. "I've been so anxious to meet you that I just keep having to go again and again!"

As this woman scurried about, I watched her and soon felt more at ease. Within no time, we were all back in the car and traveling to Algonquin Park. It was fall and as we walked the winding forest path, pine needles blanketed the ground - crackling underfoot. After about an hour of strolling, they asked me to step aside. I could hear them whispering to each other, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. Then Vera returned to me, threw her arms about me and said: "Remember this place, Sherry. This is where we've made up our mind that we want you to be our little girl!"

I was overjoyed, but didn't quite know how to respond. Nothing truly wonderful had ever happened to me before, so I just smiled shyly.

It would be another month before I would see this couple again - Ray, a portly figure of a man, with red hair - Vera, petite and feminine. I never found out which one of them was incapable of having children. My father was one of a dozen kids in a poor family. After his mother died, he was forced to take care of the entire brood. He had no use for children, but knew how much Vera longed for one.

"I promised God that if I pulled through, I would adopt a child," she told me one day.

They officially became my parents in November 1957. I had just turned 8 and it was decided that I would be given a new name. It was changed from Charlene Delores White to Martha Christine Hannon. "

Your name sounds too much like a gypsy," she said.

She told me Martha meant 'little helper' and Christine meant 'a gift from God.'

I had my first birthday party that year and was truly spoiled. My new mom was also very watchful over me. I knew she loved me dearly and she showed it in so many ways. This was all new to me and I soaked up every single hug and kiss as if it would be my last. Each summer was spent together up at their cottage on Lake Simcoe - a place I quickly learned to love, because I had her all to myself, while my father stayed in the city to work. We spent many a night laughing and joking together. She had such a wonderful laugh - so free and happy.

When I turned 11, she sat me down and explained that she was ill. Cancer had insidiously worked its way into her chest and she needed an operation to remove one of her breasts. I was devastated. "No! No! God, you cannot, I repeat, cannot take her away from me!" I wailed.

Mom had her operation and was soon back home, smiling and happy as before. One would never have known she felt any pain at all. When I expressed my fear of losing her, she replied: "I will never leave you. I love you too much!"

I then learned she had to go for chemotherapy treatments on a regular basis. As young as I was, I had no idea what that entailed, but I accompanied her on many trips to the hospital. Through it all - the weakness, the throwing up, the loss of her hair and the pain - she continued to smile and joke about her circumstances.

A few months later, we learned the cancer had spread throughout her body. Always an active woman, she soon had trouble walking and fell frequently. I always tried to be home quickly after school to make sure she was all right. Over the course of the next two years, she became progressively worse and by the time I was 14, she suffered more and more every day. I went to bed every night and prayed that God would relieve her pain. Yet, whenever relatives or neighbors stopped by, she was as bright and cheery as usual - always ready with a joke and that wonderful smile.

By this time, I was well in the habit of cooking the meals, cleaning the house, doing the laundry and my homework without supervision. I had friends but spent most of my time making sure mom had everything she needed. Her favorite drink was Coke with a squirt of lemon. It seemed to settle her stomach and quench her thirst at the same time.

By the time I turned 15 mom was bedridden. I had to help her use the toilet and brought her all her meals. At night, I would hear her moaning in pain and by this time, I prayed that God would take her. A couple of times, she went into a coma and we thought we'd lost her. Each time she rebounded and told me: "I will never leave you. I love you too much!"

The cancer then spread to her brain and she had to be put in a home for a while. That really tore my heart out because I missed her so much. The cancer continued to ravage her tiny frame and she became weaker every day. I continued to care for her every need, while she tried so hard to smile through her pain.

I walked into her hospital room one night and heard her ask dad for a Coke with a squirt of lemon. He went to get it for her, while we spent a few precious minutes together. I somehow knew it would be our last.

"Mom," I said. "I love you so much. Please don't leave me. She responded: "I will never leave you, Martha. I love you too much."

That night, my father called to say that she had slipped away quietly in her sleep. Though she has now been gone for 40 years, I still see her wonderful smile and hear her joyous laughter, even through all that pain. We truly had a mother-daughter relationship that will never die, because our love for each other lives on.

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# My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune.

# Graycie Harmon

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

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# 68. UMMI – My mother

By Heba Sajid Amin

A daughter narrates her mother's influence on her life in the Arab World, aptly calling her story UMMI – which in Arabic means Mother.

When I heard about this great book which is going to be published on one of the closest personality in life "Mother", I could not stop myself from writing a short story on my mother.

Being a Muslim girl and living in the Arab world, I get to know that in Arabic, mother is called "Umm". I could not think of anything else to give the title to the story. When I think of all the precious and uncountable gifts Allah blessed us with, one of them is the heart warming personality of Mother. Although I will not be able to thank her for all of the sacrifices she made, all of the love she gave to me and all of the support and care she did for me but I think this would express my feeling of thanks for what she has given me in 20 years of my life.

Mother - the word makes all of us think of a humble and generous personality, remind us of the warm touch and strong hope. Although there have been tons and tons of times and moments when my mom acted as a shield for me. There are uncountable events when she was the one who told me that I look prettier then every other girl in my childhood, when other kids tease me and gave comments on my dress. I will not be able to count her smiles she gave me for my success and all of the goals I have achieved. I would never have been able to reach this level without her support and endless love. Without her attention I would not be able to study late at night and I will not be able to count the number of times she used to come late at night and tell me to go to sleep so that I would be able to go to school next day with all my concentration and fresh mind.

I still remember the time in my life when I used to get little abrasions on my elbows or knees and she would worry as if it was the most serious and critical thing that had happened to me. She would not sleep all those nights when I had fever and would pray so that I get well. I would never forget the tears of happiness in her eyes whenever I achieved any prize or goal.

I would love to share everything she has done for me from the very first day of school to the day of my graduation. I still might not be able to express my feelings for the love she has given me. I would like to share something from Hadith:

"A man came to the Prophet and said, 'O Messenger of God! Who among the people is the most worthy of my good companionship? The Prophet said: Your mother. The man said, 'Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man further asked, 'Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your mother. The man asked again, 'Then who?' The Prophet said: Then your father." (Bukhari, Muslim)

I have five brothers and I am the only sister, in other words I am the most loved personality in my home among my parents. The relationship with my parents is always like a strong bond between friends. I don't remember any part of my life whether it was my childhood or adult hood, if I ever had any trouble there would be my mom and dad to solve the problems. Among parents , I can't express the love and affection of both but dad has been quiet busy with his work a lot of time and the only person to be there 24 hours was my mom. Whether it was 3 in the morning or 12 at midnight, if I felt scared I would always wake her up in my innocence and hug her. She would let me sleep by her side and would kiss me on my forehead.

Being the only girl at home, in childhood my brothers used to tease me a lot. They had each other to play and crack jokes, have fun and go to the parks. They had each other to share their secrets and talk about the all the boy's stuff. I felt so left over as childhood demands of a partner, although kids have their own world but they need to share their little secrets, their toy stories, their school homework's, their little problems about the class mates, of not eating the lunch, of buying new pencils and new school bag. That time no one was there to hear my stories except one person and that was my mom. She would listen to all my problems and concerns and would tell me to be friendly with my brothers but I being a girl wanted the company of my own gender. The charm of having friends at childhood begins when we go to the school and meet different people. I tried hard to fix things with my brothers but there was always some kind of differences that made me feel out of the scene.

My mother became my closest friend in the very beginning years of my life. I don't remember anyone so patient and calm to hear all my concerns and stories over 10 times the same day and repeating in different order. I don't remember any time when she became angry on me for asking the same questions again.

The decision of my joining the paramedical program was such a hard one. I was not able to think of anything as that was the turning point of my life and I had to enter my professional field. She was there always to standby my decisions and my choice. She used to tell me every thing that was right and wrong and would tell me the positive and negative aspects of every thing.

I would never be able to finish the stories and would love to write everything. Mother is a personality who is given respect in every culture, no matter what nation one belongs to, no matter what race or what religion one belongs to. We all should be grateful and thankful to God Almighty for blessing us with such a precious gift of our life.

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# 69. My name is in your heart

By Kasturi Subhadra

When her mother asked her if it was her name on the certificate or someone's names on posters that she was after, her mother had shown her a path that she would follow through life.

Mother is the sweetest word in any language vocabulary and invokes several fond memories.

My eldest son had graduated as a doctor from the Banaras Hindu University. I was staring at my name on his certificate with pride in my eyes wondering why other universities don't have the mother's name printed on the student's certificates. My mind raced back in time to my childhood days. The one incident that changed my perspective towards life flashed in my mind.

It seems only like it was a few days back, the memories still fresh in my heart. The year was 1964. I had just moved to join my parents and brother in a small town called Srikalahasti, a very religious place, for my seventh grade after having done my schooling for four long years staying with my grandparents at Amalapuram in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India.

One day on my walk back from school, I heard the loud advertising that came from a rickshaw that was announcing the release of a new movie. The man in the rickshaw was distributing and scattering colorful posters of the movie to the interested crowd that had gathered around. A few kids had also gathered around him to get their hands on the posters. The temptation had gotten the best of me and I joined the crowd and started collecting the posters running behind the rickshaw.

Once my hand was full with a variety of posters, with a sense of great achievement I ran to my house and showed the posters to my mother. By the look on her face I knew she was not impressed but instead of scolding me she appreciated my effort. Maybe she thought I may feel bad and would want to go back to my grandparents if she scolded.

That night at bedtime she told me and my brother about her childhood. She was born in 1932 to affluent parents. In the society that she lived, education for girls was highly discouraged. So when she was almost a teenager she had to stop her studies even though she was very much interested. She cried and fought to continue her studies but due to religious and traditional customs, her father stopped her education. Even though her father arranged for her to be home schooled in Hindi by a teacher and she passed few Hindi exams, she was always aching over the education she never got.

Then my mother turned to me and asked whether I wanted to run behind rickshaws to collect colorful posters with some irrelevant names printed on them, which anyone running behind the rickshaw can collect? Or do I want to study hard and earn certificates with my name printed on it which will earn me value, respect and money in the society?

"Do you want to get certificates with your name on it or common posters with someone else's names on it?" she asked me. I was impressed by the words and accepted to study harder to my full ability and get certificates for myself. Next morning my mother enrolled us for after school Hindi classes and many extra circular activities.

I passed the Hindi exams and got certificates for them which had my name and my father's name printed on them. After that, in due course, I completed my Masters degree in Arts and Bachelors degree in Education also. I started working as a teacher in Andhra Pradesh and got the district level best teacher award also in 1995.

I got married and have two wonderful sons - one a doctor and the other an engineer. I am proud that I have always been the first teacher to my children.

So I took my son's certificate with me the next time I went to visit my mother and showed it to her. I told her that if my university had similar certificates, her name would have also been printed on my certificates. My mother smiled and told me "My name is in your heart. You have given me such great grandsons as a gift. And as a teacher you have utilized the opportunity to mould so many students as good citizens."

Whatever I wrote is too less before my mother's memories. But today she is no more.

Maa. give you blessings to us...my heartfelt Namaskarams..

#

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# _A partially deaf boy came home from school one day carrying a note from officials at the school. The note suggested that the parents take the boy out of school, claiming that he was "too stupid to learn."_

# _The boy's mother read the note and said, "My son Tom isn't 'too stupid to learn.' I'll teach him myself." And so she did. When Tom died many years later, the people of the United States of America paid tribute to him by turning off the nation's lights for one full minute. You see, this Tom had invented the light bulb — and not only that, but motion pictures and the record player. In all, Thomas Edison had more than one thousand patents to his credit. A partially deaf boy came home from school one day carrying a note from officials at the school. The note suggested that the parents take the boy out of school, claiming that he was "too stupid to learn."_

# _My Mother was the making of me_

_—Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)_

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# 70. My mother – my treasure

By Athulya Byju

A great realization of the value of ones mother.

Mother is an epitome of self-sacrifice and endless love. She is the only one who is ready to give up anything for the happiness of her child. She takes all the pain to give birth to a child. This is the pain which she says gives her the most happiness. A mother is a child's first teacher. She is the one responsible to mould the character of a 'child'. She is the only person who understands her child the best. We just can't explain her through words. It is unexplainable. The best relationship in this world is a mother-child relationship. It has the strongest thread, the unbreakable thread of love and trust.

But these days mothers are not receiving the respect and love that they must get for all the pains they have undergone to bring up a child. The number of old age homes is increasing day by day. Many people don't give their mothers any love or respect. They feel them as burdens and leave them at old age homes. How cruel is this? Is this the way to treat our mothers? I just can't tolerate this.

My mother is my motivator towards my goals. She is the one who is always there with me. She knows how exactly my mind works. Her ideas and my ideas are always the same. Her choices and my choices are similar. She is my support, my strength. I just can't pass a day without her. My life would be incomplete without her. Once when she had to leave to my motherland for ten days due to some urgent issues, I felt miserable. Though I had my father with me, I rally missed her. Those ten days seemed too long for me. When I reached home every day from school, I missed her presence. I felt terrible. Those days, I really realized how important my mother is to me. A mother is always a mother. A father can never replace a mother. My mother is really great. She is the one who inspires me to think positively and face challenges in life. She is the one for whom I would die for. I believe my mother is the best. I am really lucky to have such a wonderful person in my life. I thank God for giving me such a good treasure.

#

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# 71. My mother to the rescue

By Hriddhi Pratim Guha

Recalling how mother has been there for all who needed her, anytime, anywhere..

In everyone's life mother's role is beyond expression. In fact there is no language, which can represent her contribution in her children's life. It only can be understood when felt. In my childhood days I referred my mother as 'Princess' when I had to write a small paragraph about 'my mother'. As I was growing I could understand that she is not only beautiful but she is also an absolutely generous person. It is better to say that if generosity could be incarnated then it would be in the form of my mother.

Since childhood I have been watching her always involved in the service of others. For example, once one of her friends fell sick, I called her Soumya aunty. She stayed in another building which was little far of ours. She had two children who were older than me. After hearing of her illness my mom rushed to her and nursed her. My mom could not go to her school and cooked for Soumya aunty's whole family and reached them food at their place. It is very common between friends, but what I like to mention is that my mother endured great trouble to reach the food to aunty's house as the containers were too heavy because she had cooked for seven days for a family of four members. My mother had to carry me along with the food as I was too small to cover the distance by walking. As far I can remember, I was three and half years old and my father had already gone to the office. My mom did not care for anything, she did not seek anyone's help as it was her sole objective to comfort Soumya aunty mentally that her family would not be in difficulty because my mom knew she can not take aunty's physical sufferings but she can lighten her mental tension about her family. Mothers are always concerned about their families, they are totally alert about their responsibilities in raising their children. They take care of each member of the family. But how much do we take care of them? That is the question, which is an eye-opener to us.

I like to mention here that Soumya aunty had high fever and recovered soon. I still thank to God that he listened to my mom when she had prayed for Soumya aunty.

Now I like to mention another story about my mother's generosity. This incident has deeply influenced me and I became spellbound with her abundant nature. It is a tale of almost ten years ago. We were in Mumbai at that time. My father was in Hindustan Lever, he was in Sewri Branch so we used to reside at Antop Hill which was close to Matunga, a prominent residential area in Mumbai. These two localities were close to my father's factory. I like to mention about my parent's likes and dislikes, as the story is related to these. My mom liked to watch movies but my dad did not. My father loved food and preferred to go to restaurant on the weekend. I was very fond of cartoon movies. During that time one cartoon film named Tarzan was being screened and he was my favourite cartoon character. I knew that if I approach my father to take me to the cinema hall he would ask me to bring the video cassette of the movie and would encourage me to enjoy it, sitting at home but I was keen to watch it in the movie hall to get the sharp, digital audio-video effect. My mother has a power of counseling and I requested her to motivate my father, so that, I would be more attentive in my studies as true entertainment is needed to fresh the mind. It is known to everyone. I can still remember, how long we took to make him agree to take us to Charge gate as the cinema hall was at Charge gate. At last we could win my father's consent and he was ready to have fun. My mom and I were so overjoyed that we started making sandwiches to have it during the interval. I was so energetic that I sat to finish my homework for the next day, which was Monday. I was thrilled as we had to travel by a taxi and local train to reach to the cinema hall. We got out from the house at 4.30.P.M.Needless to say that how happy were we. I felt like flying in the sky. We were on our way to the cinema hall, and were walking through the Matunga road, when I turned around to see that my, mom, walking behind me ran across the road and I realized that something, had gone wrong, people gathered around in a circle on a small part of the road and my mom ran towards the large gathering. I was frightened and ran behind her to see that a terrible accident had occurred and a woman and her father traveling on a small two – wheeler had fallen down and the both of them were bleeding profusely. The scene was horrific, I had never before seen an accident occur before my eyes, and didn't know what to say. They always taught us that distressed people are always helped by others, and that God shapes up humans to help one another but all that seemed far from true. No one in the crowd around came to help the old man and her middle aged daughter who were in pain and bleeding even more severely. I felt that bookish things never really sounded as well, but who else to set your faith on not on your religion or its books, but your mother.

I saw my mother like a sprinter rush towards the injured two and hand them some help. She rushed to them tied her handkerchief around the lady's forehead and helped the man get on his feet. My dad helped her. He took the old man aside and gave him some water. My mom was not done yet. She saw that the lady was badly injured hence she first planned to take her to the clinic. We went to a nearby clinic. While the father was left with a few bandages, the daughter was still in a serious condition. She had lost enough blood and felt feeble. After some time, she felt good enough and we helped her get home.

The story ends here but the issue and the virtue starts right here. My movie program was disrupted, but that's okay because a life was saved. My mom was exemplary in showing the small value of humanity and rightly I understood that human character had past it's time.

I still remember such an incident, because it helped me gain more respect for my mother. I started realizing that as nice as she was at home to me and my dad, she was also the same with people around her. Help, selflessness and entrepreneurship has always been her identity and she's still continues to progress in life due to this quality.

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72. The realization

By Nivedita Mohan

It took her a while to realize it, but should the realization have come much earlier?

Not everyone will agree if I said that my mom's the most beautiful woman on earth. Some would contradict that it's Angelina Jolie, Victoria Bekham, or even Greta Garbo. But I pity their ignorance. After all, they aren't lucky enough to be my mom's daughter!!!! My mother's a woman who carries much more burden on her shoulders than any woman I've ever known. Yet she faces life boldly with those sparkling eyes and that pearly smile.

I don't hate my mom. But all these years, I forgot to express my love. Caught in the rat race for wealth and glory, there wasn't a space for love in my shrunken heart. I never spent time with my mother; my mind was preoccupied with my problems. My mom never complained. She accepted me for what I am. In all the rush and hurry, I forgot to love.

But my mom never forgot. I faintly remember the day she risked her life trying to save mine. I was around five then, when my dress caught fire. The flames had started to lick my chin, when my mother tried to put it out - with her bare hands. All that my mother did for me, I never gave it a second thought. I believed it was every mother's duty – until I became a mother.

I turned out to be a very bad mother. I couldn't be like my mom. I wonder how she could love selflessly, keeping my desires above hers. I realized that no one could replace my mom. She is an extraordinary woman.

That's when I decided I had to change. My mom deserves more than the Christmas Greetings I send her. She needs my love, and I'm not going to deny it. Today, I'm on my way to meet her, thirty years of hidden love brimming in my heart. Yes, today, I'll meet my mom, and love her more than any other daughter in this world. I laughed at myself for being childish, but a poem popped up in my mind.

If I could climb the highest peak,

If I could reach the deepest trench,

If I could grab an Oscar,

If I could reach the Miss World podium,

There's just one thing I'd like to tell the world.

"My Mom's the best!!!!"

The car stopped and I got out. My mom's house. Everything's the same- only I changed.

But everything wasn't the same. There was an abominable lull in the place. Something was wrong. My brother rushed to me.

"I was about to contact you."

"What happened?"

"Mom met with an accident. She's no more......."

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# 73. Lucky mascot

By Pratheeksha Prabhash

"Only with mother's milk of love;

Will a child attain complete growth?"

The above line quoted by an Indian vernacular poet is the most beautiful lines I've ever heard. 'Mother'-she is the supreme being, epitome of selfless love, God's most noble creation..............her description goes on and on, but the truth is that 'Mother' is something which is beyond our imagination, much more ecstatic than words can describe. She is the be all and end all of this universe. Even though 'father' plays a vital role in producing off springs, it is she who withstands and undergoes all the pain and sufferings to give birth to a child and raise him/her in the right way.

I find my mother a perfect example to the above lines. She is my role model. She is the person, whom I respect and admire above all others. She always has the apt solutions for all my problems. When I cry, she consoles me even she herself might be crying deep in heart. I share with her my happiness, grief, outlooks, feelings, dilemmas and everything. She patiently hears them. She is always very busy but still finds time to pursue her hobbies, help my brother in his studies, play with him, enquire about my school day happenings, and look after my father's requirements and so on. She works 24*7 hours but still she doesn't complain. She enjoys her work. I don't know how she manages to put on a pleasant face even if she is sad or tired.

Oh God! How I wish I could be like her! But I know never I can be like her how much ever I try to, because she is unique and special. She is my lucky mascot, my angel in disguise.

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# 74. Mother, I miss you

By Aveed Sheikh

She had always warned him, but now it was too late..

"Mamma! Could you please iron my clothes? I want to play the video game". "Is playing video game more important to you than ironing your clothes?". "Mamma please! please iron my clothes". "Son, you have to learn to be independent. You need to organize all your tasks". "But why now? I will do it sometime later". "Son, this time is not going to last forever. Who knows that I may or may not always be there for you. However I shall iron your clothes for now but remember that your mamma may not be available at all times to iron your clothes". Yes indeed her words were right to say that at times I may not find her whenever I need her.

Three years ago she passed away after suffering from meta-static condition. Back then it was truly a crude reality to torment me. It definitely took me some time before I could cope up with life. By this time I began to reflect upon her advices which prior to her demise I took for granted as mere sayings. I have become far more than just independent. Unfortunately she is not present to witness the transformation that her son has undergone since her demise.

My mother was no different in comparison to other mothers but her approach towards her three children was unique. She did not force us to change within a day rather she took her own time in allowing a smooth transition of a good character. She was the pillar of our family. No doubt her death at times seemed to me as if the whole world was about to collapse. Determination to find a cure to her illnesses and the idea that my character reflects my mother kept a firm hold of my life. Like every responsible mother she supported me at the times of difficulty and encouraged me when I felt low about myself. No doubt she always put her efforts in bringing out the best within me. Regardless of her illnesses, she performed her duties and responsibilities as a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a sister. Nevertheless I do admit to the fact that she was a very special human being who will continuously inspire me throughout my life. Mamma, I miss you a lot. Wherever you are, you are always present deep inside my heart.

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# 75. My gift of opportunity

By Fathima Zahra Kamil Faiz

Her Mother's belief in her provided her the gift of opportunity..

My mother is the most amazing person I know. In fact, if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be sitting right now in my dormitory typing these very words. Instead, I probably would have been married; with at least two kids, attempting to cook a decent lunch before my thirty something husband came back home from work.

It isn't strange for a twenty year old to be in such a situation. Back home in Sri Lanka, girls get married as soon as they hit eighteen. To be twenty and unmarried is nothing short of scandalous. Most people in my Kandy hometown were brought up to believe that a woman's place is only at home. My mother herself barely finished 11th grade when she wore her wedding dress. Denied of a college education and career, she was determined that her daughter would not meet the same destiny. Therefore, despite the warnings and repercussions she faced from three generation's worth of family, she gave me her blessing to make something out of myself.

Today I am in college pursing an Ivy League degree in a foreign country. By giving me the honor of being the first girl in my family to receive a post-high school education, my mother has given me a chance at a better life, a brighter future and a successful career.

My mother's belief in me fuels my belief in myself. She is my inspiration and guide. It couldn't have been easy for her to stand up to her elders and risk her reputation and dignity on a sloppy eighteen year old. This unwavering belief she has in me motivates me far beyond my capabilities. From the day I walked my first steps to the day I graduated from high school, she has always given me her support, advice and understanding. Her pure unconditional love has driven me to achieve my goals and to think twice before doing anything wrong.

Because of her, I now know that I have the potential to make a difference. My mother is an incredible woman and my love and gratitude for her is immeasurable. She has played a major role in making me who I am today and who I will be in the future. My mother is what the word "hero" will always mean to me and no words can describe how thankful I am for having her in my life.

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# 76. The angel of my life

By Moustafa Amin Mohammed Ali

Through her unfailing love and attention, she paved way for his success in life.

Words can never express the true gratitude I feel for my mother. I was a special case in which my mother showed unparalleled sacrifice, tenderness, mercy, and great compassion. Like most babies, I came to this world perfect and healthy. My mother was ecstatic because she had previously suffered through the death of my brother when he was one-and-a-half years old. She was awfully worried and afraid of losing me too.

When I was six months old, she noticed something wrong with me; my left leg and right hand were completely limp. She immediately rushed me to the hospital, where she was informed by the doctors that her baby would be among the disabled. Worse, she was told that the disease might spread all over my body unless I got daily Physiotherapy treatment. Clouds of bereavement showered her with anguish and grief - but she remained hopeful.

We were not a rich family, so my mother decided to work to provide me with the prescribed treatment. However, the doctors told her that my case needed much more care (and consequently much more money). So, she and my father agreed to limit their food to one meal a day to save up so they could afford my treatment. One can imagine what kind of hardship she experienced with these circumstances - especially while caring for five other kids!

I remember the numerous times she had to carry me and run to different hospitals as a young child. At the age of seven, I had an accident in which I broke my left leg. My mother had to spend fifteen nights sleeping on a wooden chair beside my bed in a hospital in Egypt. She never showed me signs of exhaustion or displeasure while having to care for me, and she always encouraged me to continue my studies. One would never believe the amount of excitement and glee she experienced for my graduation and successful life as a teacher many years later.

Indeed, my mother is a very special woman who sacrificed her comforts for her children, and to this day continues to shower us with her love and compassion. She is the angel of my life, giving me pure hope and inspiring me to instill happiness and joy in the lives of those around me.

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# 77. Brave heart

By Yousra Samir

A mother who was a real warrior, courageous and strong..

Everybody cringes at the end of Brave heart, when Mel Gibson's character has his bowels drawn out. Since my youngest brother was born, my mother cannot bear to watch Brave heart. I cannot blame her after what she has been through. What happened to her was something out of a horror movie.

When my mother went into theatre that day in July 2005 for a Caesarian no one was too worried. The surgeons were jovial; the anesthetist joked with her as he administered the anesthetic. But they did not wait long enough for the anesthetic to work. Despite a plea from the anesthetist to wait, the surgeons cut into my mother's womb.

She felt everything-the knife cutting into her flesh and hands poking around her insides. No words can describe the pain that ripped through her body; she was paralyzed, unable to move or talk. She thought it would never end. The anesthetist noticed that she was silently crying and, alarmed, shouted that she was awake. Realizing what they had done, the doctors argued and shouted and all the while my mother felt and heard everything. Then, suddenly, everything went black.

It turned out that the doctors had miscalculated the number of weeks my mother was pregnant and the baby was premature. His lungs had just formed and unable to breathe, he was whisked off to intensive care. After the entire trauma on the operating table, my mother faced another ordeal - was her baby was going to survive? The doctors told her to rest, to stay in bed. But she got into her car in the sweltering Doha heat to get to her baby's side and there she stayed until he pulled through. Not once did she complain.

It was then that I began to grasp the scope of a mother's love. It really must be immeasurable and unconditional if my mother could go through what can be equated to the medieval punishment of drawing one's bowels without complaining. I had underestimated her love for us and the pain and suffering she endured for us to come into this world. The courage and fearlessness with which my mother faced and overcame her ordeal is truly inspirational. My mother to me is a warrior as much as Brave heart was and after seeing how she has coped with everything life has thrown at her, I aspire to be as strong and courageous as she is.

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# 78. Generations of influence

By Nittala A. L. Sruthi

The story of a mother shaping the life of her daughter, leading her towards education and charity – values that she had learned from her mother years ago.

When my mother taught me to serve the needy as much as we can, she was imparting to me what her mother had taught her years ago. This was an inspiration for me to do my best to help those in need and to donate from my earnings each month.

No other word in English is as sweet as "MOTHER". Sitting in a chair and staring at the window, I dug deep into my heart and felt memories rushing in.

My mother was born in 1971 in Kakinada in East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh in India. My grand parents were blessed with 4 female children and 1 male child, and my mother was the eldest among them. Due to lack of financial resources, she had to stop her studies with intermediate and got married. But her interest in studies made her a graduate at the age of 26.

She dreamt of becoming a teacher, but that was not fulfilled. So she encouraged me to flourish in my studies and wanted to see me as an engineer. She was always very kind to the poor and advised me to donate some amount of money every month to any needy institution.

I remember once when we went shopping and returned on a rickshaw, she noticed that the rickshaw puller was in worn out and torn clothes. My mother gave him two shirts of my father. The man's eyes were moist when he left. I decided then to serve the needy in future.

I still remember her teaching me and my brother the Bhagavad-Gita shlokas (verses from holy book), and ethical stories because of which, my spiritual strength improved as I grew up.

Today I am an engineer as per my mother's wish. I continue with a determination to be a supporter of a orphanage.

Mother is more powerful than the sacred Upanishads (sacred text of Hindus), so whatever I may write, there would still be something un-discussed.

I forgot to say my mother was also influenced a lot by her mother, and still continues to learn from grandmother who is now 55years old.

Together they influenced me a lot and are still influencing!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MAA

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# 79. Embodiment of love

By Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

(World renowned Scientist and former President of India)

A son's story about his mother who was the epitome of kindness and love, having touched his life in a special way that enabled him to transpire from a young boy who sold newspapers in spare time during his schooldays to become a great scientist and eventually the President of India and most of all - a great human being.

"This is the story of my mother who lived ninety three years, a woman of love, a woman of kindness and above all a woman of divine nature. My mother performed Namaz five times everyday. During Namaz, my mother always looked angelic. Every time I saw her during Namaz I was inspired and moved"

During the IInd world war in 1941, it was a difficult time for our family at Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu, India). I was a ten year old boy then. War had almost reached our doors of Rameswaram since the cloud of war had already reached Colombo. Almost everything was a rarity from food articles to anything.

Ours was a large joint family. The size of our family was five sons and five daughters, three of whom had families. I used to see in my house anytime three cradles. My grandmother and mother were almost managing this large contingent by themselves. The environment in the home alternated between happiness and sadness.

I used to get up at four in the morning, take bath and went to my teacher Swamiyar for learning mathematics. He will not accept students if they had not taken bath. He was a unique mathematics teacher and he used to take only five students for free tuition in a year. My mother used to get up before me, and gave bath to me and prepared me to go for the tuition. I use to comeback at 5:30 when my father would be waiting for taking me to the Namaz and Koran Sharif learning in Arabic school. After that I used to go to Rameswaram Road Railway station, three kilometers away to collect newspaper. Madras Dhanushkodi Mail would pass through the station but not stop since it was war time. The newspaper bundle would be thrown from the running train to the platform.

I used to collect the paper and run around the Rameswaram town and be the first one to distribute the newspapers in the town. My elder cousin brother was the agent who went away to Sri Lanka in search of better livelihood. After distribution, I used to come home at 8 AM. My mother would give me a simple breakfast with a special quota compared to other children because I was studying and working simultaneously. After the school gets over in the evening, again I would go around Rameswaran for collection of dues from customers.

I still remember an incident which I would like to share with you. As a young boy I was walking, running and studying all together. One day, when all my brothers and sisters were sitting and eating, my mother went on giving me chapattis (even though we are rice eaters only, wheat was rationed). When I finished eating, my elder brother called me privately and scolded "Kalam do you know what was happening? You went on eating Chappati, and mother went on giving you. She has given all her chappatis to you. It is difficult time. Be a responsible son and do not make your mother starve". For the first time I had a shivering sensation and I could not control myself. I rushed to my mother and hugged her. Even though I was studying in 5th class, I had a special place in my home because I was the last guy in the family. There used to be no electricity. Our house was lit by the kerosene lamp that too between 7 to 9 PM. My mother specially gave me a small kerosene lamp so that I could study up to 11 PM. I still remember my mother in a full moon night which has been portrayed with the title "mother" in my book "Wings of Fire" as below:

Mother

"I still remember the day when I was ten,

Sleeping on your lap to the envy of my elder brothers and sisters.

It was full moon night, my world only you knew Mother!, My Mother!

When at midnight, I woke with tears falling on my knee

You knew the pain of your child, My Mother.

Your caring hands, tenderly removing the pain

Your love, your care, your faith gave me strength,

To face the world without fear and with His strength.

We will meet again on the great Judgment Day.

My Mother!

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My mother is a poem  
I'll never be able to write,  
though everything I write  
is a poem to my mother.

\- Sharon Doubiago

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

# Postscript

In all human relationships, the one towards 'Mother' is exclusively significant, pure and divine. One's love and obedience towards God is a thing of the future and secondary, next only to that towards one's mother because of the cordial relation of the umbilical chord. However great a man becomes on this earth, he bows at the feet of his mother and receives direct blessings that come along with a very special and sweet tender feeling. There is no such great sacrifice on earth than what a mother does for her child. Therefore, for any person, his or her mother becomes an integral part and most respectable person in life. No technology, ideology or personality could replace her, and that is her foremost place even in the mind of greatest of the greatest. Mother is more praise worthy than the patient earth, we can say. Special mention is needed when it comes to mother-daughter relation, as they are part of an ancient and recurring mystery, for every daughter is her mother in certain ways; it is from that source that she learns the tricks of womanhood, of nurturing and caring, of becoming a mother in her future!

For a child, from day one, the mother is the closest person in his or her life and she is one who takes care of all basic needs, for the next five to seven years. The mother is always there ready to welcome the child with all its handicaps or whatever faults the child may have committed, with deep understanding, love and compassion. And we have proof - scientific proof - to give the credit to mothers that mother is the visible God, central factor in a child's physical and mental growth. Mother is the mirror for a child. Mother is child's advocate. Mother is the most instinctive philosopher in a child's world. 'Mother' or mom is one word that has the same language connotation in most languages. If in English it is mummy, in most European languages it is mamma, in West Asians and South Asians it is amma, or umma; this all point to one important factor 'mother' as the prime mover, the moving spirit and inspiration for all mankind universally. The fathers, for sure, have their prominent place as the originators, but mothers grab all appreciation for their important place in a man's life and stand tall.

If " _there is_ _a woman behind every successful man"_ as the saying goes, it is not necessary to be his wife as popularly envisaged, but his Mother, the only person, who could be instrumental in building his life on strong foundations with timely curative supports. This, the world knows, from the real-life struggles encountered by poor and handicapped unlucky children, who lost tenderly care from their mothers during their young age when they mostly wanted it. Therefore, Mother is Divine and Mother is Conviction.

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# My Mother Co Authors List (in Alphabetical Order)

A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Dr. Embodiment of Love 79

Adi Tarmaster Poem: Mother 14

Aishwarya Santosh A wonderful mother 45

Alexia Marciano, Dr. Influence of a lifetime 12

Almas Bano, Col. Poems: Mother & The sunset 15

Anjana Elizabeth Abraham The golden angel of my life 5

Archana Kamath The hand that rocks the cradle 19

Arshita Surbhi Before I was myself, you made me, me 46

Aruna Kallu Greatness of a mother 41

Ashish Kumar Gupta Mother – as I know her 25

Ashwin Radhakrishnan My super woman 47

Athulya Byju My mother – my treasure 70

Aveed Sheikh Mother I miss you 74

Babu RHV I know she did 35

Beulah Shalayane Christopher The queen of my life – my mother 48

Bhonagiri Monica Fulfilling her ambition 36

Brittany Sargent Create a great day 32

Catherine Mohanji Gera The beam in my life 49

Chaitanya J Parikh Mothers – then and now 28

Christopher Thomas, Prof., Dr. My sacrificial mother 2

Cindy Jocelyn Fernandes An angel in my life 50

Clewin Pinto The most influential persons in my life – my mother 51

Dan Verghese My mother 1

Eisha Sarkar Mother's the word 16

Elina Lukose A daily gift for my angel 52

Emma Robinson Memories are forever 42

Fahima Abdul Aziz The voice of Silence 53

Fathima Zahra Kamil Faiz My gift of opportunity 75

Gina Susan John The beauty of nature 18

Grace Sarah John Amma – My guardian angel 54

Heba Sajid Amin Ummi – my mother 68

Hriddhi Pratim Guha My mother to the rescue 71

Kasturi Subhadra My name is in your heart 69

Kiran Bala Poem: Looking at mother 20

Luisa Bernabe Patricia's lullaby 10

Maimoona Rahman Chef mother 55

Mansour Saadat Hamid May God bless you dear 56

Martha Jette Memories of mother – my true life angel 67

Mary Qast Mothers, women empowered 33

Meenakshi Bagchi Ganeriwala An opportunity lost 24

Meghna Dipaksinh Jadav A mother is a mother always 57

Mohanalakshmi Rajakumar What I learned from my mother 27

Moustafa Amin Mohammed Ali The angel of my life 76

Nadine Patricia Martin She is happy 58

Najiya Muhyidheen Abdul Rahman Another day without mother 59

Nisha Dias Poem: Happy birthday mother 21

Nitin Mathew My special mother 6

Nittala A. L. Sruthi Generations of influence 78

Nivedita Mohan The realization 72

Noora Shifa Unforgettable 60

Pratheeksha Prabhash Lucky mascot 73

Preetha Rengaswamy Whatever I am – I owe to my mother 29

Priya Rajendran Poem: A tear drop 8

Priya Varughese Not just another lady 61

Pushpalatha A. Through dark phases of life 38

Raheja R. G. Woman – this is your story 26

Rajeev Balakrishnan Grains of sand 66

Rajeev Mathew Thomas When the going gets tough, mother gets me going 4

Rajini Singh Life teaches 17

Rajkiran Gouni Waiting at the gate for me 39

Renuka Khanna Mother – God's representative on earth 22

Rian Abraham A lonely mother's struggle 11

Robert Mangeri My amazing wonderful mother 13

Sam Mathew Dr. Cherishing her memories 43

Sana Khan My mother – my mentor, my motivator and my guru 62

Shruthi Mathai Gradual mother 63

Siva Sankar B A silent victim of love 9

Sneha Balan A tribute to my mother 64

Sony Raheja Make the most of what you have 30

Sravani KP Love at first sight 40

Sudha Lukka Grandmother's memories 37

Sunitha Shyam Keep rocking mother 44

Susmita Das Gupta and Suchismita Das Gupta Our misty mother 31

Thankamma Thomas My grandmother and her tryst with destiny 3

Uday B Nagavarapu Never replaced 34

Usha Rao Following the words of wisdom 23

Vignesh Gounder, Dr. My cherished mother 7

Yasmeen Gul Khan My mother – my angel 65

Yousra Samir Braveheart 77

Read on for more, or click here to return to the Contents Page
Thank You Mothers for all your inspiration for the creation of this book and all the true stories therein.

With love to all Mothers.

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# If you would like to buy a Hard Copy version of this book for yourself, or as a gift to your loved ones including your mother, you can do so from the following link. All proceeds from sale of this book go to charity.

 http://www.amazon.com/My-Mother-global-tribute-mothers/dp/1449963293

~~~~~*****~~~~~

Detailed Copyright information

First Published as Hard Copy edition in USA in 2010 with ISBN No: 1449963293

Copyright © All rights reserved Dan Verghese – USA 2014.

With input from 78 Co-Authors

Edited by

Dr. Christopher Thomas

&

Dr. Rajeev Mathew Thomas

Cover design by Genesis Magat

The buyer of this e-book version of MY MOTHER is hereby granted the right to freely distribute copies of this book to others as long as you acknowledge source of the contents of this book, its authors, and publishers, and keep the contents of the book intact in its original form. In other words, you may not extract and distribute a particular story of this book or use any part of this book for commercial gain. The book must be lent Or forwarded in its entirety, and keeping intact all pages of this book including this copyright page and cover page This copyright restriction is applicable upon any future copyholders of this e-book as well.

This book is an effort to recognize and thank all our mothers for their role in our lives. Please do not insult them by violating this copyright instruction.

Thank you for your support.

The author Dan Verghese and www.my-mother.net have been granted exclusive rights by all the co-authors of this book project to use their stories in whatever manner appropriate in the publication of this book, and these rights are transferred automatically to the books publishers based on terms of publication agreements with them.

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