The biggest surprise, which is also the best, is that I didn't

In the luminous and heartfelt words of Deborah Norville, “The biggest surprise, which is also the best, is that I didn’t know I would love motherhood as much as I do,” we find the revelation of a truth that transcends time and culture—the discovery that love, when pure and selfless, often comes not as expectation but as astonishment. Her words are both tender and eternal, for they speak of a transformation that defies prediction: the awakening of the maternal heart, that ancient and sacred flame which burns brighter than reason, deeper than ambition, and stronger than fear.

Deborah Norville, a journalist and mother, spoke these words from a place of lived wonder. Known for her intellect and professionalism, she had conquered the world of television and news—realms that demand precision, strength, and composure. Yet in the quiet realm of motherhood, she found something that no public triumph could match: the spontaneous joy of nurturing life, of loving without condition or measure. The origin of this quote is rooted in that moment of realization shared by countless mothers across time—that no preparation, no story, no advice could have revealed the fullness of this love until it was lived.

The ancients, too, understood that some forms of love cannot be taught, only awakened. In the myths of Greece, Demeter, goddess of the harvest, knew the world in its order and abundance—but when she bore her daughter, Persephone, she discovered a new depth of devotion. It was only when her child was taken from her that she understood how fiercely her heart could burn with love and grief. And so, when Persephone was restored to her, Demeter’s joy returned to the earth itself—the spring blossomed, the wheat rose, and life began anew. So it is with every mother: the world becomes larger and more vivid through the presence of a child, for motherhood does not merely change one’s duties—it transforms one’s very being.

The surprise of motherhood, as Norville calls it, lies in its paradox. One may expect fatigue, responsibility, even anxiety—but what often astonishes most is the immense capacity for joy. The heart expands beyond what one believed it could hold. The sleepless nights, the fears, and the sacrifices fade in comparison to the quiet beauty of a child’s laughter, the soft hand clutching one’s own, the word “Mom” spoken for the first time. This love does not depend on merit, nor can it be earned; it exists simply because it must. It is life loving life, the divine in human form.

Yet Norville’s words carry not only wonder, but wisdom. For in our modern world—where success is measured in progress and performance—many approach motherhood with apprehension, fearing the loss of freedom or identity. But her revelation teaches otherwise: that the giving of oneself does not diminish life, but enriches it. To love deeply is to be reborn. To nurture another’s life is to touch eternity. The greatest surprise, then, is not in what is lost, but in what is found—a love that asks for nothing and gives everything.

Consider, too, the story of Marie Curie, a woman of science whose mind illuminated the mysteries of the universe. Amid her groundbreaking work, she was also a mother. When her husband Pierre died, she bore her grief with courage, raising her daughters while continuing her discoveries. Her eldest, Irène, would go on to win a Nobel Prize herself. Through the dual calling of intellect and motherhood, Curie embodied what Norville’s words suggest: that love multiplies strength rather than diminishes it. In the act of giving life and care, one gains a new kind of power—the quiet, unshakable power of purpose.

Let this truth be carried forward: do not fear the transformations of love. Whether you are a mother, a father, a teacher, or a friend, know that the heart’s capacity for joy grows only when it gives. The greatest blessings are often hidden behind uncertainty, waiting for the courage to step forward. And when you do, as Deborah Norville discovered, you will find that the surprise of love is always the best one—the unexpected joy that changes not what you do, but who you are.

Thus, let it be remembered among the teachings of life: the heart, once opened by love, can never close again. Motherhood—in all its forms—is not merely a role, but a revelation, showing that the greatest wonders are those we never planned, but embraced when they came.