Today is a day to celebrate mothers, mothering, motherhood.  It is a wonderful occupation, a never-ending pull on your heart, and a connection with humanity that will last for eternity.  I LOVE being a mom.  I love my baby.  My two year old.  My four and six year olds.  My eight year old.  Each stage is challenging, enlightening, exhausting and exhilarating.  To all mothers; I applaud you, stand shoulder to shoulder with you in this daunting and fulfilling task, learn from you, and encourage you.  When you compare your mothering to others as though you are less, you discredit yourselves (as I am prone to do.)  When you allow pride to seep into your heart because your kids aren’t providing you with as many moments to exercise patience and grace, you discredit others.  For God to trust the privilege of begetting life to me, as a woman, I am truly, humbly awestruck.  Though our society and time in history does more to belittle the role of mother than it does to promote it, I will believe, all the days I walk this planet, that I have been given a divine gift.  I cherish the title with which I am bestowed afresh each day:  Mama.  I don’t think I personally would be so challenged and pruned in any other occupation.  To me, such would be impossible. 

For those who have not yet had children, prepare to be changed.  Physically of course, but the change, you will discover, will run much deeper and bring to you so much growth, in depths and in ways unexpected.  You will NEVER be the same.  For those unable to have children, I wish you a special peace and the ability to find a place into which to pour all of your mothering capabilities, intuitions, and emotions.  Those qualities are in you for a reason.  You are not forgotten.  For those who have lost children, with you I grieve.  Your heartache must run so very deeply.  For those not sure how they are going to get through the day, not sure they are able to properly mother the children in their homes, don’t despair.  Rest assured that He Who began a good work will not fail, and when you do, He grants you the beautiful gift of grace and mercy.  For those who have lost their own mothers, rejoice in the happy memories you hold dear now.  Shed a tear, smile at the clouds, breath in air and life, and don’t ever forget.  For those in strained or estranged relationships with a mother, don’t lose hope.  As long as you both have breath, healing can happen.  Trust God to make straight paths on the journey to restoration. 

We tend to say words around holidays and special days with a certain degree of flippancy.  But to all the beautiful women in my life, I truly wish you, in all the beauty of it’s definition…

Happy Mother’s Day.