Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all...unconditional love. And when they reached the top, they said, "Mother, we could not have done it without you." The days went on, and the weeks and the months and years and the mother grew old and became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children." And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey and now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity, and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them." And the children said, "You will always walk with us Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "we cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory, she is a living presence.
To be continued...
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