My mother lived by a deep conviction: Life offers countless opportunities, and every person—regardless of education or circumstances—is capable of making the best of their life.
Yet her own path in life was anything but easy
World War II stole her childhood—she experienced it as a young girl in the Caucasus, enduring all its hardships. After just four years of school, she was torn from her family at around 16 years old and sent to so-called “labor armies”—forced labor under extreme conditions.
When I write about my mother, the inevitable question arises: “Are you saying your mother was flawless? That everything about her was right and good?” My answer is always the same: “Where there is light, there is also shadow.” Just as every person carries both within them, so did she. And yet, I have chosen to take those aspects of her life as a model that shaped me in a strong and positive way.
My Mother Was a Heroine
She was a heroine. Despite the many adversities life placed in her way, she was a courageous and incredibly strong woman. Her devotion to her family remains admirable to me—and in some ways, a mystery. When we had barely anything to eat, she would take a stroller—sometimes with two children—and go clean and plaster houses for others. And we were not few—eleven children in total.
She gave me a love for reading and writing. When I was little, she would read to me from the Bible—and tell her own stories alongside it. I especially remember her stories about her father—a skilled entrepreneur who, as a member of a merchant guild, guided his family through hard times. Education was important to her, even though she had little access to it herself.
My Mother Gave Me a Very Special Piece of Advice for Life:
My boy,” she said, “you are a special and extraordinary person. Find your place in life and make a difference. You are capable—and even destined—for it, because I know your calling.
Her words and her unwavering belief in me left a deep mark on my life—even though I know that every person is special and unique. That’s why I live by the principles I learned from my mother and now pass on to others:
- Love life: It is precious and won’t come again. Protect it and treat it with respect.
- Find your place: Discover your unique place in life and make your distinctive contribution.
- Recognize your uniqueness: Remember that you are one of a kind. Compare yourself only to who you were yesterday.
- Invest in education: Keep investing in your learning and personal growth. You will grow old either way—whether you let yourself go or strive to grow. Strive! Don’t just drift along—it will always lead you away from who you were meant to be.
- Be mindful with your resources: Take great care of your body and your resources. Don’t exceed your limits. When my mother got sick, she would set everything aside to recover—and only then continue with full effort.
- Love the supernatural: There is more to our Lord than people try to represent. God—the God of history—is magnificent, and so is the God of the present. Let Him be visible in your life.
- Gratitude and enjoyment: Enjoy your food, and remember—it is something special when you have it. Be grateful for what you have.
- Humility: Be humble and not wasteful.
- Make room for the gifts of others: Create space to be enriched by the talents and abilities of other people.
My mother never wrote books, never stood on a stage, never held a title. But she lived a life that still echoes within me to this day. Her strength, her words, her faith, and her tireless dedication left a mark—and they help me offer direction to others.
She was stronger than fate. And I am grateful to be her son.