On Mother’s Day in 2004, I attended our son’s college graduation at Syracuse University and listened to Phylicia Rashad deliver the commencement address.  It was so beautiful and I’ll never forget the simple message she gave to the students, “go forward with a mother’s heart.”  Wishing you all a happy Mother’s Day, Kathy Groob.

Phylicia Rashad Commencement Address, 2004:

“Congratulations and Happy Mother’s Day.

Time is precious and short so I’ll get right to the point. You asked me to come, so I’m
here. And I asked myself, “What could I say to this August body that’s meaningful,
and personal and true?” I want to offer this suggestion to you: The best way to live
in this world is with a mother’s heart. Yes.

A mother’s heart is brave. A mother’s heart is keenly intelligent. A mother’s heart is
resourceful and quick and skilled in action. A mother’s heart is flexible. A mother’s
heart is sustained and empowered by the purity of its intention—its soul
intention—to see the family through. Yes. And to encourage each member of the
family with its diverse, individual personalities. To embrace the family as a whole
with love and respect. Unyielding in this effort, the mother’s heart sacrifices its own
pleasure for the well-being of the family.

My great wish for all of you is that you would understand that this takes great effort
and sustained and renewed commitment, that you would each come to regard this
world and all of its inhabitants as your family and that you would embrace it with a
mother’s heart.

May all of your days be filled with brilliant sunrises and magnificent sunsets, and
may you take the time to regard them. And just like the mother’s heart, may you live
in constant remembrance and gratitude for the one who created you. And may good
fortune always attend you in all of your endeavors—and tonight may you throw
down and celebrate, celebrate, celebrate!

The world that you want to live in needs you to create it. The world that you want to
live in needs you to create it. So live in it, and create it with a mother’s heart.
Congratulations.”