For All of Mine

How can you describe your appreciation to a person who has given you everything? By opening your heart and showing that person what’s inside.

Unfortunately this can’t be physically done. I just wish it could.

How can I wish my Mother a Happy Birthday? By telling her that she’s always been my life engine. My drive. My motivation. My Goal.

Simply, she’s been the reason for my existence. What better than existing? Even though we go through as many bad times as good ones, existence is the most valuable asset we have. And my Mother has giving me that opportunity.

Mom,

I can’t thank you enough for that. I love you for that. I adore you for that. I worship you for that.

My Mother laughs my laughs, sheds my tears, returns my love and fears my fears. She lives my joys, cares my cares and all my hopes and dreams she shares.

Real mothers know that a child’s growth is not measured by height or years or grades... It’s marked by the progression of Mama to Mommy to Mother. And mine has excelled in each one of them. Always at my side, my Sister’s, her Grandsons' and all her loved ones.

Just about the time she thought her work was done, she became a Grandmother. Yet she took the job and, again, she excelled.

Kate Samperi once said:

A mother loves her children even when they least deserve to be loved.

I wonder if I deserve to be loved. If I don’t, and knowing how much you love me, I’m sorry.

I’m sorry for not being able to make you travel the world. I’m sorry for not being able to take you out for dinner every single night. I’m sorry for not being able to buy you the biggest of the houses and make you the queen that you are. I’m sorry for not kissing you everyday both on sunrise and on sunset. I’m sorry for not giving you that hug which you deserve every second.

Otherwise, I’m all yours. Just ask and I’ll do the best I can. And if the best is not enough? Then I’m sorry.

You have given me so many things in this life. The things I did not have, you gave them to me.

Unfortunately we have both lost one. But it was worth living the experience. It was worth taking the ride. It was worth every single minute. It was better than not having it at all. He made us laugh and made us live. And would always want us to do that.

Believe me. He is watching. He is wishing. He is wishing you a Happy Birthday. I can feel it. And it’s not just talking nonsense. You know how little I believe in such things.

One day he will show us around Heaven. Don’t forget that!

But it’s your birthday, and we should party. We should celebrate the fact that you are getting younger every year!

This year we’re celebrating at home. I hope next year we would be both having a suntan on the white sand of Hawaii both holding cocktails with those small umbrellas on them. Just in case it's not going to be next year, I promise you someday we will. That would be seeing Heaven even before we actually see it.

Mom,

I guess I love you more than you love me because you have only loved me for a part of your life and I have loved you … for all of mine.

Nahida Khoury, Mom,

Happy Birthday to you!