Happy Mother's Day

How many women in your life do you need to thank on this special day? How many have shown their selflessness, have given up part of themselves to be a mother to you?

At the risk of boring my readers, I wanted to list a few of the special moms in my life. Of course I have to start with the one that brought me here, my own mom. As far back as I remember, she was a working mom. Oh, I remember when she first got the job as the substitute teacher and can't recall what she did before that. Or the job at the temp agency. But in my mind she was always a working mom. Cook, cleaning, all the rest too. Even found a way to slip me a little cash on weekends when I was in college, when I know she didn't have the cash for herself. Somehow thanks doesn't seem to cut it as a response.

The second mother I need to thank is the mother of my children. Some of you know that my first wife passed away 10 years ago. She gave 15 years of her life to raising our 3. Boy if she could see them now.

God is good and in everything He finds ways to show His glory. A little over eight years ago, I met a woman who was a mother herself. Her kids were out of the house, she had "finished" the job of raising her kids (do you ever finish?). She gladly stepped in to help complete the job with mine. She's given up a lot of her dreams over the last eight years to make sure that they have a chance at theirs. Trying not to overshadow their own mother, but also trying to help them in the way that she knows will result in mature adults (after all, she was already batting 1000).

And then there's our girls and girls-in-laws. All four are mothers or will be in about a month. For one of them, this is their first mother's day with a little one. For two, they have the sweet knowledge that in a few days or weeks, they will hold the little one in their arms. They all have no idea what the next 18 years will bring, but I know that they will devote everything to the little ones.

I could go on and talk about my sister and her giving up her career for the second time to devote to her daughter, or my sisters-in-laws and how they drop everything to take care of theirs. You get the picture.

To all of these mothers, and all of you mothers out their, thank you for what you do, have done and will do. Thank you for giving of your life to take care of us. Thank you for giving up the things you want for being mothers. Happy Mother's Day. Somehow, one day just isn't enough.

Happy Mothering Day

Several years ago, I did some research on Mother's Day for my children. I thought I had heard the history before and needed to confirm it. Now, it's time to revisit the reason we celebrate the mothers in our life.

Most people frown on quoting Wikipedia, but their article on Mother's Day is the most exhaustive I know and the facts are backed up elsewhere. It has detail on other countries celebrations as well as the history of the US Mother's day. You can read it here.

"In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war." The idea was pushed by Anna Jarvis' daughter (also named Anna) in her memory.

So it was started by a woman whose mother had died.

What is sad, is that "nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become." This was around 1923, imagine if she were alive today!

Regardless of the commercialization and Anna's (and my) attitude towards commercialization, we should still take this day to honor the mothers in our lives.

First, to my own mother. Thanks mom! You sacrificed for me through my teen-aged years and modelled the way I was supposed to behave in so many ways. I still remember seeing you praying at as the VBS leader, so many years ago.

Second, to my wife. Mother of two that stepped in seven years ago to help me with three more. Sometimes appreciated, sometimes not, you've never quit trying. Thank you for what you have done and are continuing to do for these five (and spouses).

To the mothers of my grandchildren (one born, two in the womb). Thank-you for allowing me to spoil your children. I promise, I will give them back to you once they are full of sticky stuff (hopefully before it comes back out) and complete with toys. It's important that they know Grandpa's best.

To mothers-in-waiting. Patience. Your day will come in God's time. Relax today and enjoy a day of quiet. Those days won't last long.

To mothers-in-wanting. My heart goes out to you. I know that doesn't even begin to make this day any easier for you. Please know that God has a special plan for you and His heart goes out to you also.

I would be remiss if I didn't say something to the mother of my children. As a mother for 15 years, you showed the Way to three very special children. As long as they live, you live on in their hearts.