Happy Birthday,
Mom

Happy birthday, Mom.

Thirty years ago, God gave me the greatest gift of my life: you. I have spent every year since so grateful for it, grateful He chose you to be my mother, grateful for every hug, every lesson, every heartbeat of yours I got to feel long before I understood my own. Yes ma, sh'thi u na 30, because that's how long I have known you, but I know that even before that, you were light in every room you entered.

Thank you, God, for her. Thirty years of her, and still not enough.

I value every sacrifice you have ever made, for me, for our family, and now for Nsika too. I see it in the way you show up for him the same way you once showed up for us, and I don't take one bit of it for granted.

Nsika will sing happy birthday to you today, probably only getting as far as "u na 4," kepha, and even if he can't always say it in words, let that be a gentle reminder: he has loved you all his life too. May you receive the warmest hugs from him today, and may his progress keep bringing you as much joy as he brings all of us.

Just in case no one's told you today: you are so loved, Mom. By me, by Nsika, by this whole family you built with your own two hands. Every little thing you've given us, we noticed. We kept it.

I hope God stays being good to you. I love you.

I see you. I love you. Today, and every single day after this one.

Your daughter, Lebogang