Mother's Day

Forgive me as I may ramble a bit. I have a lot to say and I'm not sure how to connect it all. Mother's Day has always been special to me because my mom is easy to celebrate. In my opinion, I have been blessed with the best mom possible. When describing her, I think of June Cleaver only more of a spiritual guidance. Growing up, my brother and I never had to worry about whether we were safe or whether we were going to be able to eat or whether we were loved or whether we were secure. My parents made every effort, every day, to make sure we knew how loved we were.
For the past 11 years, Mother's Day has taken on an even more special meaning. Now I have 2 reasons of my own to feel even more loved. For the past 11 years, I have been spoiled with handmade gifts, flowers, cards and lots of Mother's Day love. This year, Mother's Day is even more special because whatever the boys give me is something they came up with on their own. Since we haven't been in school since mid March, I know that teachers haven't dictated my Mother's Day gift. It's all my boys' thoughts and creativity that I'll be getting. And I know that, whatever I'm getting, they are both super excited about it, which makes it even more special.
As special as Mother's Day is for me, I can't help but think of my friends who aren't celebrating Mother's Day the way I am. The friends who have spent thousands of dollars to have their own child to no avail. The friends who long to be married and have a child of their own, who remain single. The friends who have lost a child, that grieve because their child is in heaven. The friends who are splitting custody of their child and don't get to spend today with their child. Several years ago, I posted on FB about Valentine's Day just being a silly Hallmark holiday. A friend wrote back, "How do you think we feel about Mother's Day and Father's Day?" At the time, this friend and his wife had tried, unsuccessfully, for years to conceive. So, Mother's Day and Father's Day was just another reminder of the fact that they didn't have a child of their own. Praise the Lord, that's no longer the case and they have a beautiful little girl. But, his comment made me stop and think, to pray for my friends who don't get to celebrate this special day the way I do. Now, every Mother's Day, I count my blessings and pray for those who long to be a parent.
So, whether you're a biological mom, a fur baby mom, an adoptive mom, a spiritual mom, a stepmom, a foster mom, have lost a child mom or a neighborhood mom, I want you to know that you are special. You are loved! The world is a better place because of YOU. So, happy Mother's Day. Thank you for all that you do and for making those around you feel loved!