I’m not big on Hallmark holidays. Today, however, I got a Mother’s Day gift that moms everywhere dream of receiving.

Sixteen years separate my daughters, so I never expected them to be close. It took about 20 years; but it happened, to my joy and delight.

“I can’t have my sister moving into a place that’s not clean,” said the elder when I caught up with her by phone as she was renting a carpet cleaner on her way to the home her sister and family will soon occupy.

I stood at the door a couple of hours later, and dripping spilled cleaner water and sweat she waved me in. Over half the carpet had been shampooed, the bathroom was close to sparkling, curtains were in the washer and dryer, and walls were being scrubbed room by room. Pregnant younger sister and family weren’t due to arrive for another couple of hours, and by then the place would be spotless and sanitized.

Now that’s love! And it’s really all that moms want. Forget the flowers, candy, what-have-you. Just love each other — and show it.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Psalm 127:3