“A mother is she who can take the place of all others, but whose place no one else can take.” â€" Cardinal Mermillod

Today, I’m remembering my mother and the countless special things about her. I’m sure many of you are doing the same. After all, our mother is the first person we see, touch and love â€" and if yours is anything like mine, it’s possible she’s also the first person you feared.

I grew up an only child. People often ask if I was bored or unhappy growing up without siblings. “No, not at all,” I say. “I loved being an only child and getting all of my parents’ attention.”

“Ah, you were spoiled then,” they reply.

“If you knew my mother, you’d know better.”

My mother was very strict. “Little girls are supposed to be seen and not heard” was her mantra â€" and I learned to adhere to that rule when I was very young. Others were: “Respect your elders,” and my favorite, “Pretty is as pretty does.”

My mother was somewhat like a daytime thunderstorm. You know the kind that comes up suddenly, causing the sky to turn as dark as night, and then it rains cats and dogs, thunder booms and lightening crashes, making you feel helpless. Within a few minutes, it stops as abruptly as it started and the sun comes out again. Somehow, I always feel as though I’ve been chastised, or at least warned â€" the way my mother used to warn me about my behavior and then kiss the top of my head to let me know she still loved me.

She was only 18 years old when I was born. As a youngster, I always enjoyed having the youngest mother at PTA meetings.

After I started school, she went to work. That meant I had to go straight home after school, straighten up the house and start dinner before my mother arrived, while my friends went home, changed clothes and played outside until their mothers called them for dinner. I considered that unfair and, for a time, was certain my mother didn’t love me.

On Saturdays, we cleaned house, did laundry and bought groceries. I wasn’t permitted to go anywhere with my friends until my part of the work was done. I wasn’t very fond of Saturdays.

On Sunday, we went to Sunday School and church. Mother taught a class and sang in the choir.

Besides “Pretty is as pretty does,” and “Little girls are supposed to be seen and not heard,” my mother taught me many important things:

n She taught me that every human being deserves respect, but that sometimes we don’t get it unless we demand it.

n She taught me that things always work out if you have faith.

n She taught me that, while outer beauty is nice, it’s more important to be beautiful inside.

n She taught me that it’s okay to fail, but it’s not okay to give up.

n She taught me that when a relationship is over, walk away. You will not gain anything from watering a dead flower.

n She taught me that no man on Earth will ever love me as much as my father does.

n She taught me that, next to God, family is the most important thing in your life.

n And she taught me that God is always there for us; never be afraid or ashamed to call His name.

I learned these lessons and many more very well and have passed them on to my children and grandchildren.

Mothers come in all sizes, shapes and colors â€" short, tall, plump, skinny, black, white, yellow and red. But no matter the diversity, they all have one thing in common â€" they love their children.

Most of us think we have the best mother in the world â€" at least, after we’re all grown up and looking back. Sometimes when we’re young, though, especially when mothers are as strict as mine was, we wonder if we’ll ever get through it. Many a child in the age range of 12 to 17 has been heard saying, “I can’t wait until I’m 18 so I can do what I want.”

What a rude awakening it is to learn that time never comes! There is always someone to whom we must answer. Even after we feel we’ve outgrown our mother’s control, there will be someone else â€" employer and spouse come to mind. However, no matter how old we get or how many people come into our lives, Mother is the only one who is there from beginning to end â€" the one constant.

A mother’s love begins before birth and continues forever, without end. It protects, nurtures and forgives.

And like God’s love, it is unconditional.