My mother is a phenomenal woman. She serves people faithfully and impartially. A Christian, she lives out God’s command to love one’s neighbor. She sacrifices time and resources to see that others excel. She has given away a greater part of her earnings to charitable works in the United States and abroad. She is a brilliant educator who touches the lives of her students and the families with whom she works. One parent described my mother as “mother-like.” On Mother’s Day she said about my mother: Even though my birth mother has passed into glory, there are some women I highly esteem as mothers and you are one of them. I celebrate you today for your God-fearing, wisdom, hard work and your compassion for the less fortunate. I salute, bless and thank you, Mrs. A.” These words summarize how so many people feel about my mother. She has touched so many lives with her loving-kindness. She is a truly a special woman and I too salute her.