Happy Mother's Day

Mothers: Every Year is Their Year

author unknown (adapted by various persons)

This blessing is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers saying, "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

This blessing is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they may never see. And the mothers who took those babies -- forever to be their own children.

This blessing is for all the mothers who attended ball games, recitals, rehearsals, etc., etc. and who said "I wouldn't have missed it for the world," and meant it.

This blessing is for all the mothers of Kosovo who fled in the night and can't find their children or can't feed their children.

What makes a good mother anyway? Is it patience? Firmness? A soft lap?

 Or is mothering what is in her heart?

Is it the ache she feels when she watches her child disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2a.m., to put her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The need to flee from wherever she is and hug her child when she hears news of a school shooting, a fire, a car accident, a baby dying?

Yes it is so.

So this blessing is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who wanted to but just couldn't.

This blessing is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store with frustration and despair.

This blessing is for the mothers who show up at work with milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

This blessing is for all mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to speak up with pride.

This blessing is for mothers who put pinwheels, teddy bears, or flowers on their children's graves.

This blessing is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who haven't the words to reach them, and yet have never put them from their heart.

This blessing is for new mothers stumbling through diaer changes and sleep depriviation. And mature mothers learning to let go. For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers. Single mothers and married mothers. And women who became mom's by the choice of children who were lost, or by virtue of accident or being in the right place at the right time. And for grandmothers, great grandmothers, wise elders and matriarchs.

And this blessing is for all of us who will move beyond sentiment into actions which support mothers and mothering persons in all their life-giving and life-nurturing roles.