I received a valentine this past February 14th. It was from my 5 year old son. It was a cut out heart, colored pink, and in his best attenpt it said "I Love You Mommy'. When he handed it to me he was so proud, and I was so touched. It is currently hanging on my fridge, and every time I wealk by it, I can't help to feel all the love that went into that valentine.

There are many kinds of love in this world. The love between a mother and child is one that unmatches any other. It is specific, entagled, complicated and simple all at the same time. It is a love so encompassing it hurts. You hope and pray that you wll be able to express that love....that your child will feel it, sense it and soak it in. You pray that love will uplift, heal, stregthen, nurture and persevere in thier life as they grow. If there is anything you hope for your children as they grow...it is to know they are loved and be confident in it.

So, what about those days when your love does not shine through. Days of frustration and trials. We have all had them; I have had my fair share. Those days when the words you say do not portray the love you feel so deep inside within your soul it consumes you. Those are the days I regret. And those are the days I learn - I learn just how much my children love me in return.

The love of a young child may just be more powerful than our own. A child's love can edure much. It is filled with forgiveness, trust, and compassion. I remember a day in particular, a few years back when I experienced the love of a child first hand. I have had many similar since then, but this one remains strong in my memory:

I was emotionally tangled, perhaps acting on a bit of PPD after my 3rd child was born, consumed with regrets and felt I needed to apologize to my son, then only 3. The apology, to the best of my recollection, surrounded a prior curcumstance where my son needed to be repremanded for something he had done...and I was to quick to offer it. It was his first real experience with discipline, incorrectly received, and it broke his heart to have me upset with him. In fairness, I overreacted, and for months it cosumed me with giult that his heart was broken, and I caused it. Of course, it was not a serious punishment at all,, and he quickly forget about it...but i didn't. One day I felt so much remorse for getting upset with my child that I actually broke down in tears. I held my son and explained to him that mommy was sorry for gettng upset with him and reacting the way I did. My eyes welled up as I humbled myself before this toddler of mine, asking for his forgiveness. His response? One I will always remember; he reached out to me with his little bitty hand and said, almost crying himself;

"Mommy, don't cry.......because I love you'

His eyes were so full of love. The thoughtfullness of those tender words spoken from a child so young grabbed my heart and pulled it so tight I thought it would burst. Instanlty I cried harder. What a forgiving young boy. What an amazing love he has inside his little body. I only hope he learned that from me. Does he know how much I love him? I PRAY he knows how much I love him.

That day taught me just how wonderful I am in the eyes of my children, regardless of my flaws. There have been several more days like that one, when mommy needs to apologize and ask the forgiveness of her babies. In my amazement, it is during those days when I feel I am failing; those times in my blemished mommy-hood where I feel I could be doing far better than I am and pray I have not compromised the love my children feel towards me.......I am blessed enough to receive a kiss, or a hug, or a soft tiny hand upon my cheek or............ even a valentine.