A mother’s love knows no pain. It knows no danger. It is more beautiful than any lily and her heart is our true paradise. There is no safer place in this world that can be compared to it, my greatest gift and blessing.

To others she was just a poor, struggling woman who had nothing and no one. But to me, she had it all, thank you Mama. I never went to bed unsatisfied; although my stomach was sometimes hungry, my heart was full of the love my mother showed me.

I’m Manqoba Mkhize. I don’t mean to brag about my mother or bore you about sob stories on how she moulded me into who I am today. But she is such an angel, she is my pillar, my rock, my best friend… the list is endless. I love her more than words can ever explain.

If your mother is out there, appreciate her because she is irreplaceable, she gives unconditional love no matter how old you are. If she is no more, may her soul rest in peace. I know God has made a perfect home for her in heaven. Here is a letter to my mother:

Dear Mommy Dearest

I guess you’re probably wondering who still writes letters. Well, I felt like it is more intimate and heart-warming, I realised nothing is better than a hand-written letter. All I want to say is, thank you Mama! Believe you me, it is hard to find words to express my gratitude.

I get all misty-eyed as I think of all the struggles you went through just to keep my life going. If anyone deserves thanks, it’s you. You did it all Mama, no shifts no day offs. Right from the day I was a toddler to the day I became a responsible young adult and for that I will forever be beholden to you for all the hard work you put into raising me.

I wish that everyone else would at least have a mom half as wonderful as you are. Thank you for introducing me to God, for praying for and with me. Thanks for being there when I needed you the most, thanks for everything you taught me. Thank you for helping me through all those tough times in life, thank you for making me laugh.

You were not rich but you gave me everything that I truly needed. And please don’t think of saying “It was nothing” because it was very big, giving someone love when love is not what you have received. When you had to wake up in the ewes of the morning and come back in dusk, just to ensure that I have something to eat before bed. Even though you didn’t get a chance to get educated but you realised the significance of education and sent me to school and today I am who I am because of you.

I prayed last night mama. I remember vividly what I asked from God, “Nkosi, ngicela ungigcinele yena umama wami, nakhu sekumnyama kakhuku kshuthi sekuzosa. Cela umgcine naye ze adle ezakhe izithelo zekhethelo, ngifuna ukumkhipha kulowa mjondolo opheshulwe umoya.”

We are almost there Mama, I can smell Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey. But unlike Moses, I don’t only want you to see the land, but like Joshua and the Israelites, we are going to enter the land together hand-in-hand as the bride and the father walk together down the aisle.

Have a good day mama.

Love from your son,

Manqoba

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