This Column Will Save Your Life
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Let’s talk…What 103 Years Taught Me About a Mother’s Love
This Mother’s Day, my mother will turn 103. That number alone invites questions. People want to know her secret—what she ate, how she lived, what she did “right.” But after all these years, I’ve come to understand something different. It wasn’t what she did. It was how she showed up.
Consistently. Quietly. Without needing recognition. There was no performance in her motherhood. No need to prove anything. No checklist she was trying to complete. She simply lived her role—day after day, year after year—with a steadiness that didn’t ask to be noticed.
She lived what she believed. Her faith wasn’t something she spoke about occasionally—it was something she carried into her thoughts, her words, and her actions. And yet… it shaped everything.
When I think about what made the difference, it wasn’t one moment. It wasn’t a single lesson or a grand gesture. It was the accumulation of small things. Being there. Listening. Holding space when life didn’t make sense. And perhaps most importantly…not making everything about herself.
That may sound simple. But it isn’t. Because in a world that rewards attention, visibility, and validation, that kind of quiet, consistent presence can be overlooked. Until you realize what it built.
It built security. It built trust. It built a sense of belonging that didn’t have to be questioned.
At 103, my mother is still in good health. But what stands out to me isn’t just her longevity.
It’s her impact. She has touched the hearts of hundreds of people across different places and stages of life. She lives with forgiveness ready on her lips. She offers support to anyone who asks. She carries gratitude—even through seasons like the Depression.
She is quick to be humble. Quick to give. She sees the best in people, even when it’s not easy to see. Her sense of humor makes you smile. Her sharp mind invites you into meaningful conversation.
Even now, she is still creating—writing songs and poems for her family. She often reminds us:
“It is never too late to begin.”
That kind of life doesn’t fade with time. It doesn’t depend on recognition. It carries forward—quietly—into the lives of others.
Motherhood, at its core, isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence. Not the loud kind.
Not the performative kind. But the steady, grounded, reliable kind that says—without words: “I’m here.”
And after 103 years, I can tell you…That’s what lasts.
All my life, I’ve heard people say: “I wish I could be more like Ms. Sarah.”
What a legacy.
Now available: “Past Due: The Emotional Cost of Not Letting Go”. Visit Amazon.com. Jean’s background: Silicon Valley executive, business consultant, life coach, inspirational speaker, author …with focus on ministries. Contact [email protected] or [email protected].