Mothers are very important to all of us. That is the common thread that we all share. We all have a mother. There are a variety of mothers in our lives. Some of them are biological, and some of them are not. When it comes right down to it, it doesn’t matter how the mother came to be in our lives. What matters most is that they have filled that position in our lives, and they have provided us with love and support. God wants us to appreciate and love our mothers. God wants us to remember that we would not be who we are had it not been for our mothers.

Our mothers love us unconditionally. It has been said that a mother’s love is next to God’s love. Mothers never give up on us. A good mother will sacrifice everything she has to make sure that her child is happy or has what he or she needs. Mothers love unselfishly, and they do not expect to receive much back from their children. A mother would fight to the death for her child if she had to. Mothers shape us into the people that we become. They teach us the difference between right and wrong, they teach us how to love, they teach us to work hard, and they teach us to have a relationship with God.

When I think about mothers, I think about how blessed I have been. In some ways, God has given me five mothers. Each of these women has played a very important role in my life, and each has mothered me in many different ways. Today I would like to take a few minutes and honor each of them.

My mother, Darlene Weaver, has been the best mother that a son can have. She has loved me at my best and at my worst. She has supported me and been there for me when no one else was. She is the first to forgive me, the first to encourage me, and the first to take care of me. She taught me the importance of faith and prayer through her example and blessed me with many talents and interests. Everything I know how to do today, my mother taught me. She has given me a love of decorating and has taught me everything I know about making a house a home. She has taught me how important family is, and she has taught me that unconditional love is something that a few people possess.

My grandmother, Ruth Cutsinger, has been the best grandma a kid could ever want. She has always had time for me and has always been patient with me. She never puts unrealistic demands on me and is always just happy to get to be with me. She has taught me how important God is and how we should lean on Him in all situations. She has shown me, through her example, what a strong person is. She has taught me to be brave and to trust God. She has taught me to laugh and not to take life too seriously. She has helped me develop my sense of humor, and it has carried me through many difficult times.

My aunt, Pauletta Hammers, has always played a very important role in my life. She always took time to spend with me when I was a child, and she never acted like I was a burden. She has supported me, encouraged me, and taught me that people can still have strength and faith in God even when they have a chronic illness. She has taught me to work hard and never to let how you feel physically get you down for very long.

Jeff’s mom, Donna White, has taught me that a mother will fight for her child at all costs. She has taught me that when the chips are down we can always turn to our mothers. She has taught me that strength and courage come from within and when it is necessary to show that strength and courage we need to do it with boldness and grace. She has taught me, through example, to make sacrifices for the ones you love and to always be there patiently waiting for them to seek out your help.

My good friend, Diane Nadaf, has taught me to laugh. She has taught me that laughter really is the best medicine. I have faced many difficult situations in my life and Diane has always been there for me. Regardless of how difficult the situations I was dealing with were, she some how managed to make me laugh. I have always been very thankful for that. She has taught me that even if someone is not related to you, they are still a part of your family. She has taught me that friends can be just as interested in you as your family, and they can play a hugely important role in your life.

So, as you can see, I have been blessed when it comes to mothers. They are all different, and they all have different strengths, but they have helped shape me into the person that I am today. These five women will always be very important to me, and they will keep me going and keep encouraging me even when we are separated. That is the wonderful thing about mothers. They never leave you, they never forsake you, and they fit perfectly inside you heart. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with these women, and I hope that they feel the same about me.

Never forget how special your mother is. Never forget how God has blessed her with the ability to love unconditionally and unselfishly. Never forget that God wants us to learn valuable lessons from our mothers and that He wants us to honor them every day of their lives. Mother’s occupy a very special place in God’s heart, and He wants us always to remember that. So, make sure that you let your mother know how much you love her and appreciate her, not just on Mother’ Day, but everyday. If your mother is no longer with you, honor her by telling someone about her and by living the life that she taught you to live. As long as we remember and honor our mothers they will never die. They will live forever in our hearts and in the hearts of the people we tell about them, and this will bring us peace, and PEACE MATTERS.

~Dan~

(L to R) My Grandma Ruth, my mom, and my Aunt Pauletta

(L to R) My Aunt Pauletta, my Grandma Ruth, and my mom

(L to R) Jeff's parents, Bob and Donna White, Jeff, and me

Diane with Parker and Peyton