by S. Colvin

Created on: July 31, 2009

At one point in time, I would have had to narrow down the list of materialistic gifts I received in order to choose the best one I've ever received. I've been given many gifts that are significant and special to me. To be asked to choose just one of those would have been a tough task to complete.

However, that answer comes to me now without much thought. Seven years ago I stared down at a pregnancy test completely scared of what it would have to tell me about the rest of my life. I could have just been overreacting and jumping to conclusions, but I had a feeling in the pit of my stomach that this day would be a personally historical one for me. The realization of my accurate gut feeling began to set in as I watched two perfectly pink lines form.

I was going to be a mother. That was the first day of the rest of my life. Sure, I had always heard stories about how becoming pregnant and having children changed lives, but I had no idea just how much until I was standing in the same pair of shoes as so many other women before me.

I had not given birth yet, but in my mind I was already a mother. My priorities shifted that day and I put my unborn child in the number one spot. It's amazing how life can change in the matter of minutes.

Fast forward nine months and a long and excruciating labor. My daughter was born. I was tired and could barely process what exactly had just occurred and the impact it would have on me. But then she was placed on my chest for me to meet for the first time. Our eyes locked and I realized that God had just blessed me with the most incredible gift I could ever imagine.

I entered the world of motherhood. I was responsible for this tiny person. She would look to me for all of her answers for most of her life. I looked at my husband to see if our daughter had the same effect on him, and I could see all over his face that she had.

Ask me now what the best gift is that I have ever received, and without a moments hesitation I will respond my daughter. While material gifts are nice, there is no amount of money, jewelry, or sentimental gestures that could ever come close to my gift of becoming a mother. There is not one thing that I have received that I could say holds the same value or could ever top this gift I was given....until the day her brother was born.

Learn more about this author, S. Colvin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.