Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas….

To my own Mom, now in Heaven, who gave me life and the opportunity to treasure the blessing. For all  she did and for all she was and for all she taught me.  She loved me and for that and I am grateful.    To all those who shared their mothering chops with me, teaching  me to to mother my own child well– I am ever grateful for your loving instruction and wisdom.  To the ones  who sacrificially relinquished infants they were unable to provide for, allowing others to become moms.  To the moms who fell short and to the moms who picked up the slack.  To those  who became moms the minute they held  a child from another’s body.  To those who welcomed daughters by marriage and made them  their own.  To those who, while they have not birthed children themselves, mothered those placed in their care with wisdom, guidance and  immeasurable love.

To my own daughter who continually blows me away with her own mothering and who made me an Ommie to two precious grands.  To my two “bonus” daughters who have brought added joy to my life and to their own mother who has generously shared them with me.  To the eldest of the two who has become a second mother to two young boys we have claimed as the grandsons we prayed for.  To all who have willingly  taken on the mantle of motherhood with such grace and dignity.  To the mothers with empty arms and broken hearts. To the mothers of prodigals who dare to keep praying. Finally,  to all the spiritual mothers who have loved and guided daughters not their own to the foot of the cross.  There are many opportunities to mother well.  I am grateful for them all and for the women who have mothered me and mine.  Let us all pause today and drink in the gift of motherhood. May all our children rise up and call us blessed.

Her children arise and call her blessed…many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

Proverbs 31:28-29