An Open Letter to My Mother

By Jernice Kelley
Web Content Contributor

Dear mom,

I do not know how many times I can say it because it will never be enough, but THANK YOU.

Thank you for giving me unconditional love, always supporting me and being someone I can go to for anything. A mother is your first and forever friend, and I am glad to have you as mine.

Your love for my brothers and me shows in everything you do; You have made abundant sacrifices for us and continue to do so every day. You also taught us how to be there for one another and helped us through our struggles.

Thank you for being my shoulder to cry on. I know I have a support system in you to get me through anything I may face, big or small, and I could not be more grateful for it.

I know everything was not perfect in our relationship throughout the years. Growing up, I felt like I was going through various phases. There were times when I thought I was so smart and knew it all.

I remember being so annoyed when you would try to tell me something about my friends or what I was doing, but only if I had known just how right you were. Because of my own stubbornness, I had to learn a lot of things the hard way. Things that you tried to protect me from.

Thank you for always encouraging me to be the best version of myself. You trusted me and counted on me growing up, and because of you, I learned just how capable I am of getting things done. That has been especially helpful as you have supported me on my journey throughout college.

Thank you for being an example of strength, compassion, love, faith, honesty, sacrifice and so much more. We have cried together, laughed together and created so many memories with one another. You have seen me at my best and you have seen me at my worst, but your love for me has never changed.

You are a resilient woman. Words alone could not express how much I love you and what you mean to me. I would not be half the woman I am today if it weren’t for you. As I continue to get older, our relationship will change and get better in the best ways. There will be new milestones and chapters of my life that I cannot wait to share with you.

As my time at Texas State and being a part of the blog comes to an end, I could not imagine writing about anything other than honoring one of the most important women in my life.

There are millions of women in the world who share the title of mother, but none are quite like you. I love you.