In this era of motherhood by choice, we confront an oddity that I could never have imagined would occur in my lifetime. It becomes much more evident at this special time of year when we honor our mothers and express our sincere appreciation for the sacrifices they made for us during our childhood and beyond.
I think about the young Canadian fellow who appreciated his mother’s nurturing care for him so much that he saved his money for years and was finally able to present her with a check to pay off her mortgage. Fortunately for all of us, he caught the touching moment on video. To date, nearly two million people have viewed this special celebration of motherhood. Bravo Aba!
We can relate to this one son’s expression of love for his mother in many ways, especially when put in the context of the profound words Pope John Paul II wrote in the Gospel of Life: “A mother welcomes and carries in herself another human being, enabling it to grow inside her, giving it room, respecting it in its otherness. Women first learn and then teach others that human relations are authentic if they are open to accepting the other person: A person who is recognized and loved because of the dignity which comes from being a person and not from other considerations, such as usefulness, strength, intelligence, beauty or health.”