There is one person in life who you can always count on. There is only one person in your life who you know the sound of their heartbeat from the inside. That person gave you life and loves you unconditionally. That person has made endless sacrifices just to see you smile. That person is your mother. 

A mother’s love is unconditional. A mother’s love is the glue that holds us together. When you are young, you simply cannot imagine life without your mother. During our teenage years many of us experience an awkward, rebellious phase when our moms are embarrassing, or perhaps you thought of her as a big meanie. But as we grow up, we slowly realize our mothers are our best friends with our best interests at heart. Our moms are the ones we call for in triumph and sorrow. When we grow up, we realize there is truth in the phrase, “Mom knows best.” There are countless times in life when you need your mother, and no one else can take her place.

While flowers and chocolates are perfectly suitable as a way to say “thanks” to your mom, your actions and special words mean the most to her. While we will never be able to count the myriad of blessings they’ve given us, here are five reasons we should tell our moms we love them this Mother’s Day. 

Mom is modern-day superhero
Mothers are the embodiment of resilience. Each time life knocks your mother down, she comes back stronger than ever. Rather than allowing failure or sickness to overcome and drain her resolve, she always manages to find a way to rise up from the ashes. Our mothers have taught us to embody a brilliant strength throughout our journey in life. They have taught us one of the most valuable lessons in life: to love ourselves. Our mothers help us discover what we want to do in this world, and when we make that discovery, they are right by our sides cheering us along with integrity and hope. 

She leads by example.
A mother’s passion and commitment to her family is truly inspiring. A mother’s unconditional love is the foundation of the entire family. The strength of a mother’s love can move mountains. Our mothers teach us to be the bigger person, to have compassion for everyone, to rise above all, and to be our own source of strength. Did you ever watch a mother care for a sick child or spouse? She does it with grace and dignity. A mother engrossed in caregiving for an ill loved one is the definition of strength and courage while surrounded by heartbreak and human suffering. Our mothers show us what brave means by selflessly putting their needs aside to tend for us. This Mother’s Day, thank your mom for motivating you, for teaching you the sky is the limit and “impossible” is just a word.

She supports you when you need it most.
Our mothers are pretty amazing. They put up with our absurd shenanigans and they do it with smiles and zero judgment. They are the ones waiting by the sidelines when we lose the big game; waiting with the box of Kleenex after our first big breakup; racing to the emergency room when we tumble out of the tree house and break a leg. Sometimes it’s not the magnificent gestures that make moms special, but the little words of encouragement that mean the most. Our mothers are the ones constantly whispering “You can do it,” even when we think we have run out of steam and cannot possibly continue. She is the motivator who will be there to guard our aspirations. Our mothers truly believe we are the most beautiful creatures on the planet even when we are at the most awkward stages in life. Mom’s unconditional love and guidance enables us to see strength and ability in others.

Her love is incomparable.
A mother teaches her children every emotion—happiness, sadness, fear, love, anger, helplessness, compassion, excitement, joy, sorrow—all while hoping and praying they will only experience the good things in life. Your mother is the place you came from, your first home; she is the guiding light calling you to shore during the darkness of a storm. Your mother is your first friend—perhaps even your first enemy—but as we grow up and mature we realize she is a best friend and our biggest fans in life with only our best interests at heart. The strongest love is a mother’s love. Nothing on Earth can separate you from your mother, not time, not space, not even death. A mother’s love is unconditional, timeless and precious. The heart of a mother is like a rare jewel. 

She gives her family all she has (and more)
One of the most generous gifts a mom gives her family is her time and undivided attention. A mother makes countless sacrifices. She gives up her privacy and alone time to make sure her children are thriving. She gives up a carefree lifestyle to make sure her children are fed, comforted and happy. With endless love and guidance, our mothers teach us to say what is in our hearts. They allow us to be vulnerable and to embrace risk. Our mothers teach us to love a world that barley knows what it means to love itself. Their love and guidance help us faithfully pursue life with integrity and hope. Our mothers are the ones beaming with pride cheering from the sidelines when our dreams become reality. Our mothers are the ones who sometimes have delayed their own dreams with the hopes of us achieving ours first.

It is important to tell our mothers we love and respect them every chance we get, not just on Mother’s Day. A mother’s love is endless self-sacrifice, devotion and commitment that will remain in our hearts forever forging the character of the next generation. A mother’s unconditional love has painted the canvas of our lives with gentle brushstrokes of patience, sacrifice and tenderness.