The question that was asked was, "what's the biggest compliment you've ever been paid?" I knew immediately what my answer was going to be.
I appreciate compliments in any form, so this isn't to downplay the awesomeness of compliments. (Continue to give them to me) However, what came to my mind made me smile.
At 22, I was engaged and when my fiance at the time, told me why he fell in love with me, I really didn't like the answer. That was 22 year old me. He'd read all my poetry. He experienced all my cooking. He saw my creativity. I expected him to speak on my talent, or at least what I perceive as talent. His answer was so far off the mark of what I was thinking.
He told me that he knew, without a doubt, that I would be a great mother. He felt my sole purpose on this earth was to be a mother. I was a little insulted...
Until now. As I sat and spoke with my own mother tonight and was blessed enough to hear her thoughts and opinions on my life, I was enswathed with insight. Her representation of motherhood has been a stream of patience, unconditional love, forgiveness, intelligence, hard work, perseverance, faith and insurmountable strength. At 36, my perspective has heightened, as well as my gratitude.
If I'm 1/4 of what this woman is, that is the biggest compliment. She has devoted her life to motherhood and I've found it to be the noblest job in the world. And, as any compliment should be received, I say, thank you... Thank you for knowing me even before I figured it out myself.
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