I have been incredibly fortunate in my life to know and have close relationships with my mother, both grandmothers, one great-grandmother, and now also my mother-in-law and step-mother. And while these wonderful ladies have literally been mothers to me in every sense of the word, there have also been others in my life who are “like mothers,” including aunts, older family members, and various long-time family friends. All of these women have made significant impacts on my life in their own unique ways in the things that they’ve taught me, the ways they’ve supported and encouraged me, and the examples of love, grace, kindness, and transparency they’ve shown me over the years.
Let’s face it: where would we be without the “mothers” in our lives? Mothers give life and not just in the physical sense, but in the emotional, psychological, and spiritual sense as well. The world today, in all of its difficulties and challenges, cries out in need for more mothers – those who nurture, provide, extend love and compassion, and spur us on to be our best selves and accept us even when we’re at our worst. I feel very blessed to know so many women who have been there and done just that for me in my life.
Today I, as well as many of you, will set aside this day to spend time with those women who have mothered us, celebrating their beauty, strength, goodness, and faithfulness to us and our families. It is a wonderful opportunity to let them know just how much they mean to us and the ways our lives are better, changed, and different because of their positive presence. I hope to show my sincere appreciation and give the ladies I see and talk to today back even just a small portion of all they’ve done for me because they deserve it in so many ways.
To all of you who are mothers (literally and figuratively), I thank you for your remarkable contribution to the world, and wish you a most happy and blessed Mother’s Day!