What is a Mother?

Today’s piece is brought to you by Mother Letters: Sharing the Laughter, Joy, Struggles, and Hope . (Happy Birthday, Mother Letters!) Whether for Mother’s Day, a baby shower, or yourself, Mother Letters makes a great gift. Grab a copy at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, or wherever fine books are sold.

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If man was made from the dust of the earth and woman cut from his rib, my mother was sawed from the bayou’s bone. A daughter of cypress knees, Spanish moss, and spent shotgun shells, she was reared on...