The Gift of Love and Forgiveness

The Gift of Love and Forgiveness

Today, September 9th, is my mom’s birthday. And while she’s no longer here with me, her presence fills my heart. She’s my hero—the one who taught me about love, and more importantly, the one who showed me what it truly means to forgive.

I’ve been reflecting on her story, the trials she endured, and the lessons she passed down to me. This blog is my way of honoring her life, her strength, and the legacy she left behind.

A Childhood of Loss and Pain

My mom’s journey was marked by heartbreak from an early age. At just five years old, she lost her mother—her real mom—right there in their kitchen. A doctor came to the house, gave her a shot, and instead of bringing healing, it ended her life. My mom sat there as a little girl and watched her mother slip away.

Her father, unable to raise both her and her newborn sister alone, eventually remarried. The woman he chose already had two daughters of her own. She treated her daughters like princesses, but she treated my mom and her sister like outsiders, like the stepdaughters they were.

For years, my mom endured abuse, neglect, and heartache. She carried scars no child should ever have to bear. As her son, hearing her stories later in life, I felt a burning anger rise in me—anger toward the woman who had caused my mom so much pain.

The Front Porch Conversations

Some of my deepest memories with my mom are on our front porch. That was where she would share her heart. She told me stories of the pain she lived through, the years of feeling less than, the abuse, and the ache of growing up without the love and care she deserved.

As she spoke, I felt anger—not just for her, but inside me. I couldn’t understand how someone could treat my mom that way. I wanted justice. I wanted to protect her. And yet, even as I carried that anger, my mom was already walking a different path.

The Lesson of Forgiveness

The end of the story is not what anyone would expect. Years later, when her stepmother grew old and frail, my mom was the one who cared for her. I still remember the day my mom took me with her to serve this woman—the same one who had caused her so much pain.

It was almost too much for me to comprehend. I didn’t want to interact with this woman. I wanted to keep my anger. But I watched as my mom, with quiet strength, served her stepmother in love.

I will never forget the moment when that woman, barely able to speak, looked at my mom and whispered two words: “I’m sorry.”

I stood there in shock. My mom had carried a lifetime of pain, but in that moment, she showed me what love looks like in its purest form. She showed me that forgiveness isn’t about excusing what someone has done—it’s about freeing your own heart to love again.

Carrying Her Lesson Forward

That lesson is still alive in me today. I’ve faced my own trials, my own betrayals, and my own false stories told against me. I’ve wrestled with anger, resentment, and bitterness. But every time those feelings rise up, I think of my mom.

I think of her serving the woman who had wronged her. I think of the quiet strength in her hands, the love in her actions, and the forgiveness that set her free.

My mom taught me that forgiveness is not optional if you want to live a life of peace. Forgiveness is the key that unlocks love. It’s the surrender of hate. It’s the only way to walk in light in a world that can so easily turn dark.

Set Apart by Love

As I move through my own life, I want to carry what she taught me. I want to be set apart, not by anger or resentment, but by love. When I feel anything other than love—when I feel bitterness or hatred—I know it’s time to forgive again, to return to the path my mom walked before me.

Her birthday reminds me that love always wins. Forgiveness always heals. And peace always comes when we lay down our right to hate.

A Son’s Birthday Tribute

So today, I say: Happy Birthday, Mom.

Thank you for teaching me love.

Thank you for showing me forgiveness.

Thank you for modeling a life set apart—a life that reflects the heart of God.

I miss you. I love you. And I’ll see you again someday. Until then, I’ll keep living out the lesson you gave me: to forgive, so that I can love.

Happy birthday, Mom. From your youngest son who will never stop honoring you.