Nurtures             Loves Unconditionally       Gives          Accepts             Encourages

Supports              Feeds Us             Plays              Sets an Example

Reassures      Helps      Inspires        Prays       Comforts

Gives Hope     Is our Hero    Teaches    Believes

Hugs and Kisses          Always there

Gave Us Life

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and many will give tribute to their mom. Most of you will honor the woman who brought you into this world—the woman who raised and loved you. Some of you aren’t able to give tribute to your birth mom due to a disagreement, death, or because you never met her. But Mother’s Day is still a day of celebrated JOY.

Even though each one of us is different from the next person, everyone came into this world the same way. A woman nurtured you for nine months and gave birth to you. For some of you, however, your mom gave her precious package to someone else to cherish and rear—a father, stepmother, aunt, grandmother, sibling, or adopted parent. We may have entered the world the same way, but each birth story and life after birth varies from person to person.

One thing I know for sure, however, is without the woman who carried and nurtured you inside her body, you would not be here. For that reason, I celebrate and thank your mom, no matter what has transpired since your birth.

As I have grown older, I realize my mother did the best she could with what she had to work with. I don’t say these words lightly. Her path was not always an easy one. But I know she loved us and we were her life. She took the job of being a mother to heart. She put herself aside and nurtured us into adulthood.

When my stepmom came into my life, my mother shared me with her. I cannot thank my mom enough for allowing me to experience my other mom. Both women taught me lessons in life and loved me unconditionally. I am blessed.

Your mother may have played an important part in who you are today. Perhaps your grandmother nurtured you to the person you’ve become. Maybe your mother-in-law taught you unselfishness. Aunts make wonderful mothers of the heart.  An older sister shows her sibling much about life.  An adoptive mother loves with all of her heart.

~~

On this upcoming Mother’s Day, no matter whom you call Mom, reach out to the women who have made a difference in your life. Send cards, emails, or text messages. Honor the special women on your Facebook page. Call these women and tell each of them how much she means to you and how thankful you are for her involvement in your life. If you can visit your Mom (or mom of the heart), take the time to hold her in your arms. Thank and love this special woman, and give a little piece of yourself to her.

No matter who you are, you are a miracle to your mom. No matter how old you are, as long as your mother is alive, she wants to endure hardships and difficulties for you. She prays and thinks good thoughts for you. Until the day that she dies, she will wish only good for her children. She is a unique person who gives of herself to others. A mother is a saint.

To my mom, stepmom, and aunts, thank you for your unconditional love and support. You taught me how to be a loving kind mother, and I cannot thank you enough.  I will never take you for granted. I will love you forever.

To my sisters and daughters (including my daughters of the heart), I marvel at the mothers you have become. You have been wonderful examples to your children. Thank you for giving me nieces, nephews, and grandchildren to love and nurture. I will always love you. You give me great JOY.

Fill your Mother’s Day with the JOY of loving others, my friend.

“God could not be everywhere,

and therefore he made mothers.”

Rudyard Kipling