Mom passed away many years ago, but my love for her will remain in my heart for eternity. I felt her deep love, support, and encouragement every day. And I believe that I grew up feeling that I was a good and lovable person because of God’s love, and because of all the love that Mom poured into me.

When I was seven years old during the height of 1960’s Beatlemania, I wrote her a song:

I love you in the winter.

I love you in the spring.

I love you in the summer.

I love you in the fall.

Yeah, yeah ….. yeah, yeah.”

Not exactly Lennon & McCartney, even for a seven-year-old. But to Mom, it was the best song.

Now, I am in my retirement years with children and grandchildren of my own, and I hope that they feel the same sense of being lovable and valuable that Mom instilled in me. I will be forever grateful to her and always try to be like her and live with the same priorities, the same kindness, and the same wholehearted love.