My feeble attempt--- Mothers Day

Well, it is almost here.  Mothers Day!  For many, like me, it is a day to celebrate the amazing mother who gave birth to me.  A mother who sacrificed, served, loved, cooked, cleaned, drove, washed, folded, pressed, forgave, endured, stood by, stood with, stood out, cared, cried, and oh so much more!  Not only have I been blessed with a great mother, but also a mother in law.  A woman who has been mother to hundreds of foster kids as well as her own. 

I am also privileged to a front row seat to the unbelievable mother my wife is.  She continues to amaze me with the way she manages, loves, serves, cleans, ministers to, teaches, and on and on the list goes.  If that weren't enough, I get to see those same qualities in my daughter as she too is a fantastic mother to the greatest grand baby alive!   Mothers Day for many of us is a day we don't necessarily need to be reminded of the great gift we were given. 

You know whats coming... But.  But for many others this is one of the most painful days.  For many they didn't experience the kind of mother I did.  Maybe their mother died when they were young, maybe their mother didn't shower them with love and attention.  Maybe their mother was fighting so many demons they didn't have anything for anyone else.  I just know for those, this is a painful day. 

Some have allowed others, like my wife, to be the mother to their birth children.  Life circumstances, being overwhelmed, or other reasons have led some brave mothers to make the amazing life giving choice of adoption.  I say amazing because those mothers have allowed another to pour love and care knowing it is the right and best thing.  It isn't an easy thing, but it is brave!

And then there are those who want to be on the list.  The Mother's list.  They have begged and pleaded to have the joy of holding a little life or adopting a child needing the love they have.  Those empty arms are aching on a day like today.  I don't write this to cause them hurt or pain.  I write for us all to acknowledge their pain and be more aware of those who haven't had that desire fulfilled.   I'm not sure where the following originated, but I'm including it here because it says so much that needs to be said.  It prays a prayer that needs to prayed. 

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

So Mother's Day is coming!  I hope it comes for those who are waiting!