For thinking about me, praying for me, and dreaming about who I would one day become before you even knew me… thanks, Mom.

For carrying me in your womb and all of the inconveniences you endured for nine months to bring me into this world… thanks, Mom.

For going through the pangs of death to offer me life… thanks, Mom.

For feeding me, bathing me, burping me, changing me… thanks, Mom.

For staying up late and getting up early to keep our house a home… thanks, Mom.

For washing dishes, folding laundry, and mopping floors with a smile… thanks, Mom.

For feeding our family’s hungry faces when it seemed you’d just finished the meal before… thanks, Mom.

For attending my plays, concerts, and games, and being my taxi driver to do it all… thanks, Mom.

For always being there to talk to when I needed it most… thanks, Mom.

For staying up late worrying about me and my problems… thanks, Mom.

For being a woman of prayer and taking those problems to the throne room of God on my behalf… thanks, Mom.

For enduring the many times I took you and all you did for me for granted… thanks, Mom.

For ’setting me straight’ when I wanted it the least but needed it the most… thanks, Mom.

For teaching me that life is about more than just living, but loving… thanks, Mom.

For helping me see and come to know the One who loves me most… thanks, Mom.

For giving me wisdom and counsel for life’s big decisions… thanks, Mom.

For being much more than just a mother, but a friend… thanks, Mom.

For all those times you showed mercy on me when I deserved something else… thanks, Mom.

For all those times you gave me exactly what I deserved… thanks, Mom.

For teaching me things about life that I could have never learned from a book… thanks, Mom.

For showing me love that I could have never experience apart from yours… thanks, Mom.

For never giving up on me, even when others did… thanks, Mom.

For being my biggest cheerleader, my greatest fan, and one of my closest friends… thanks, Mom.

Mom, I wish I could give you all the thanks that you deserve, but I hope that I always show you and that you always know, how truly grateful I am for you in my life. No matter what has ever come between us or kept us apart, please accept these two simple words, from my heart to yours, with the truest sincerity… THANKS, MOM! I love you.

Andrew Linder is a husband, the father of four awesome kids, and a children’s pastor at a thriving church. He is the founder of GodlyParent.com and is passionate about intentional parenting and helping other parents and leaders effectively reach the next generation. He is also the author of the new book, Godly Parenting In An Ungodly World: How to raise not just good but godly kids through heart-driven grace-based parenting.

Featured Image by Gustavo Fring from pexels.com