Thoughts on Mother's Day

To all the Mothers out there:
     This past weekend I got the tiniest glimpse of what it feels like to be part of your "day". Mother's Day. One day a year that has been designated to be Your appreciation day. How small that seems, one day. But what an outpouring of Love did I witness on that day! Not necessarily in the gifts department, but in the words department (that's one of my Love Languages, you know).

     For the first time I listened to everyone's praise of their mothers with keen ears. So many thank-you's, so many I-love-you's. Simple but profound acknowledgement of all of the years of dedication that their mothers sowed into their lives. I watched all of these children, young and well grown, give tribute to the women that brought them into this world and wondered if someday my little one will say those things about me. Still in my womb, it makes me tremble to think I have this role in someone's life now. How will I wear it? What kind of mother will I be?
     For the first time I saw the women in my life who have been mothers all this time for the Selfless, Brave, Loving people they must be. Until now I have not imagined their sleepless nights, their countless decisions, their hopes and their fears. I find myself imagining these things now. I haven't held my child outside of my body yet, but it must change you, call you to be more than you ever thought you could be. How does that happen? How do you suddenly become capable of so much subtle sacrifice and fierce love?
     For the first time I felt a kinship with all of them, felt somehow invisibly connected with all of the mothers that are and have been. Something about my womanhood has clicked and I feel it humming through my bones. I get to partake in this rite of passage that has been the way Life is ushered in since our beginning. Mothers have been walking this path for centuries - How I crave their collected wisdom. I have so much to learn, but I somehow feel safe knowing that it's been done countless times before.
     For the first time I wanted to reach out and hug every mother I know. I wanted to tell her how precious she is, how priceless is the work she does, and how much I admire her. It seems so small, Mother's Day, for such a big job. As one of my Favorite Bloggers says, it's Kingdom work, this raising of souls, this molding of little people. What an incredibly daunting, humbling task.

     So now that the day has passed, the cards have been sent and the flowers stand in vases, I want to thank all the mothers that I know. Thank you for rising up to the challenge of nurturing the Lives that have been placed in your care. You are some of the bravest people I know, and I hope you know how AMAZING you are.

My Mom and I