A timeless tribute to a Mother’s love and unshakable strength that shapes us all

Mother’s Day gives us a reason to pause, in the middle of our busy lives, and look back at the one relationship that shaped us the most: the bond between a mother and her child.Thinking about motherhood, we think about patience, sacrifice, and strength. We think about the countless ways mothers build lives, often quietly, often invisibly, without ever asking for anything in return.As a doctor, I have had the privilege of seeing this love up close, in hospital wards, in waiting rooms, in hospice care, and even at home visits. A mother’s love shines through in a way that no medicine, no intervention, and no therapy can replicate.There is something universal about mothers. Across languages, across cultures, across time, the word “mother” carries a kind of weight and emotion that nothing else does. Even when patients are at their most vulnerable, whether they are five years old or eighty, it is often their mothers they call out for. Sometimes in words, sometimes simply in their eyes. It is one of the purest truths I have seen in my profession, we never really outgrow our need for a mother’s comfort.Motherhood is not just biological. It is a lifelong commitment to nurturing, worrying, guiding, and loving, even when it is inconvenient, even when it is exhausting.Mothers stay awake by a hospital bed for days without complaint. Elderly mothers continue to worry about their adult children, even when they themselves face the end of life. Mothers who lost their children carry on with unimaginable strength, finding ways to keep their child’s memory alive by helping others. It is humbling. No matter how much science advances, the most powerful healer in the world remains love, and very often, a mother’s love.On Mother’s Day, we celebrate all these silent sacrifices. But one day is not enough. Every day should be a chance to honor the mothers in our lives, whether it is our own mother, a grandmother, a mentor, a caregiver, or any woman who has played the role of a nurturer for us.In our busy lives, we sometimes forget to be thankful. We take for granted the comforting voice on the other end of the phone, the endless patience with which our smallest worries are heard, the quiet faith that someone has in our dreams, even when we doubt ourselves. Today is a reminder to say the things we sometimes leave unsaid.To the young mothers who are just beginning their journey, raising children in a complex and fast-changing world, your role is not easy, but it is vital. To the mothers who are watching their children grow up and move away, building lives of their own, I salute your grace and courage.To the elderly mothers who have spent a lifetime giving, and who now sometimes find themselves needing care, you remind us that love is never one-way. You have given the world so much, and you deserve nothing less than dignity, respect, and deep gratitude.Motherhood also teaches us about resilience. It teaches us that true strength is not in shouting the loudest, but in carrying on quietly, doing what needs to be done even when no one is watching. It teaches us about forgiveness, about unconditional acceptance, and about the kind of hope that never gives up, even in the darkest times. In my own life and work, I owe a great debt to the mothers who have shown me what true courage looks like. They have taught me that healing is not only about medicines and treatments. It is about listening, about caring, about being present. Lessons that I carry with me every day.On this Mother’s Day, let’s not just send flowers and gifts. Let’s offer our time, our attention, and our gratitude. Let’s tell the mothers in our lives that we see them, that we appreciate them, and that we love them. Not just today, but every day.Because a mother’s love is not seasonal. It is constant. It shapes who we are, and it continues to guide us long after we have grown. Happy Mother’s Day to every mother, everywhere. Thank you for everything you do, seen and unseen.