“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” -Mother Teresa- (picture by B. Coty)

Exactly one week ago today, I posted that my brother went to Jamaica for a week. He is back home now. My mother is beside herself with joy (so much so you’d think he just returned from war). This makes me laugh, in fact many things about my mother make me laugh, not because she is funny (which she is), but because she is so sincere in the way she loves us (my brother and I).  Her first question whenever we return from a trip is always, “Were they happy to see you?”. Why? Because it is unfathomable to her that people would not be excited to see us. To her, we are the MOST amazing people to ever grace the face of the earth. My brother was regaled with questions like, “did they hug you tight?” (no seriously she asked that). “Did they tell you how handsome you were?” “How did they treat you?” “Did they talk to you?” She loves us, and therefore wants to make sure that others love us accordingly. In my life she has been a source of strength, a source of inspiration, and my biggest cheerleader (even when I lost the game).

As I sat and listened to my mom’s version of twenty questions, I had this thought…I am BLESSED. I have someone who will always love me and be on my side (even if she doesn’t always agree). I want to be this kind of person for my children (if and when I have them), but I also want to be this kind of person for everyone around me. We humans have a rare opportunity to love…TRULY love. To not ask what will I gain from this, but to give without expecting something in return. My mom does this for me and my brother on a daily basis (and we are NOT always easy to love). My mom said she got it from God and gives it to us, freely. My desire is to share what I have been freely given, with others.

So what am I thankful for today? That I have an example of unconditional love. LOVE that asks no questions (or in my mom’s case lots of questions :)) and has no expectations, it just simply IS.