[HappyMomAnna]

I hope I am wlecome here---I agree completely. Love is a decision. It is an act. It is a commitment. It is a requirement. And it is not always returned.
Love is not born when given a few hours a week..... There is no time table on love---it is all the time or not at all.
I can be mad at you. I can dislike what you say---what you do--and maybe who you turn out to be----but, I can love you.

Jaime & John--I have brothers I don't like much---but, I love them.

Chirst said hate the sin and love the sinner.

Tori--I can raise a daughter (birth in this case) and not like the choices she makes as a young woman---but, I love her. I can wish all day long that she would agree with me and live by my values---but, the love I have for her can accept that this will not be the case. I could judge her and let her feel I hate her for her choices.....but, I would lose in that case. I can love her and let her be who she is and make her own life---I still be giddy with happiness that she comes home for Thanksgiving......

Sean--I can love you even though you were a huge baby--made me have a c-section and then at 9-tore your left leg off doing something I told you NOT to do---and cost $250,000 and two years to even recorver from---and life of disablities.

Andrew--I can love my husband even though he is not Brad Pitt..... Or rich like Bill Gates. And I can use my love to make him feel like he is both of them rolled up into my man.

Makayla and Jeremiah-- I can love another mothers children like I love my own---even if they have a funny looking nose and are not going to be little and pitite like me.

I can love you when you say something mean to me......because I know there is truth in what you say---and that later you will realize it hurt me---and your love will give you the right words to say.....later.

Makayla--I can love you when I hurt all over because I fell that night in the kitchen when you had that tantrum and I ran away from your hands that tried to hurt me----like your first mother hurt you.

I can love you when I see your minipulation trying hard to work it's magic over me----my love for you will eventually win you over.

I can love you when you tell me you don't know why you hurt your brother while I was busy cooking dinner---It makes me mad---but, I can love you anyway...........we won't let people hurt you that way----we can't let you hurt him either.

I can love you when you lie and steal the chruch offering. But, I will ask you to return it and tell the church you are sorry---even if you are not.

I can love you when you scream ten-thousand times how much you hate me. When you spit in my face and scratch my hand and try to kick me..... I will try to stop you---but, I still love you. I always love you. you can say you hate me---and I will tell you that you can hate me all you want----but, I love you.

I don't love you because you are beautiful. I don't love you because you are good.... I don't love you because you are well behaved or perfect----I love you because I am your mother now.

I love you no matter how ugly you are. No matter how hard you push me away---no matter how many times you tell me I am mean or you hate me---or someone else's mother is better--prettier---or smarter then me.

Jeremiah--I can love you even if you still refuse to call me mommy. And won't give me a hug or kissy.

I love you because that is what REAL mothers do.