One of the Greatest Gifts

Every mother is love. I am telling of a Swiss mother who was my neighbor on the plane that took us from Geneva to the far country. This journey lasted about eight and a half hours. The mother was holding her nine-month-old daughter in her arms, with perfect patience and attention. Her eyes were looking at her all the time as if she were the queen, and her hands were engaged in her service, with one hand made to be a throne for her, while the other kept caressing her head as if she were the lover. She was not the only mother carrying a child. I got up. I moved around in the plane, back and forth. I saw other mothers (and fathers) of different nationalities holding their children, the beloved kings. I did not talk to any of them except my neighbor. With her, I resorted to some French that remains in me. I assisted her in serving the queen, as I deemed it fitting. Together, we welcomed, once or twice, my youngest granddaughter. The two girls met first in silence, then with some astonishment. One of the greatest gifts that God has given to the world is that He has granted each of us a mother who loves him.