Grateful Heart
You held me in your arms
and gazed into my eyes
Seeing you for the first time
was such a great surprise
You wrapped me in snuggly blankets
to keep me warm and cozy
You watched me as I slept
even counted my little toesies
You recited the ABCs to me
before I could even talk
You encouraged my first steps
when I learned to walk
You bathed me and fed me
and sang me to sleep
Wiped all the tears away
whenever I would weep
You made sure I was pretty
in the cutest of clothes
Gave me medicine when I was sick
Wiped my runny nose
You put my needs before your own
a trait that goes beyond measure
For in your eyes I was an amazing gift
your life’s greatest treasure
Then it began to happen
One year turned into four
Before you could snap your fingers
My first date was knocking at the door
My teen years I was a rebel
I pushed the envelope on occasion
A few times I snuck out at night
though that was not part of your equation
You watch from the stands
As I graduated high school and then college
Without you dear mom
I would never have passed with this much knowledge
With your help I’d land a job
climb the corporate ladder
The only problem was
I forgot to acknowledge that which really matters
Yet it would not be very long
That I would walk down the marriage aisle
No one within the room
Could compete with your big smile
Then the day would come
our family would add another
It was such a precious day
When I became a mother
I held her in my arms
and gazed into her eyes
As she saw me for the first time
and was so pleasantly surprised
It was in that very moment
I would begin to understand
All that you had given me
coddled in your loving hands
As you looked upon us
your precious granddaughter and I
Feelings rushed over you
and you began to cry
For now your very daughter
might begin to comprehend
all the things you went through
committed to the bitter end
Yes, joy then overcame me
It was magnificent from the very start
I finally would begin to appreciate
Your tender, caring heart
For the circle of life continued
as you thought of your own mother
You realize you took for granted
the blessings you had received from another
You remember being in the chair
that I now sat within
looking at your mother
with a heartfelt grin
The circle of life you would acknowledge
Gaining wisdom oh so grand
You then began to teach me
all you had come to comprehend
How ironically you recognized
my motives and behaviors
Our lives would forever change
then you thanked your Lord and Savior
For he was there all your days
and would see your family through
The good times, the bad times
You now had a different point of view
So as I end this story
I plead its readers are far more smart
Remember to cherish your dear mom
With respect and a grateful heart
