A few years back, I sort of agreed that Mothers' Day was actually a day to celebrate all women. Mothers, aunts, sisters, daughters, nieces, teachers, friends, "those who mother" etc.
Then, I had a child, and I learned what a mother is.
And now, I disagree -- it is not a day for all women.
It IS a day for all MOTHERS. And motherhood can take many forms.
But there are women who are not mothers; who have chosen a life of not being maternal, and who do not mother those around them. Mothers' Day is not about them.
Mothers' Day IS about Mothers.
In church on Sunday, our Pastor read a letter by Amy Young entitled An Open Letter to Pastors -- a letter about Mothers' Day from the perspective of a non-mother. Her letter said a lot, and you can google if you wish to read the the entire contents, and her letter had some great points. What I liked best though, was the way she suggested honoring MOTHERS -- all types. She doesn't talk about all women, but she does talk about all mothers.
Thank you, Amy Young, for your beautiful thoughts:
Then, I had a child, and I learned what a mother is.
And now, I disagree -- it is not a day for all women.
It IS a day for all MOTHERS. And motherhood can take many forms.
But there are women who are not mothers; who have chosen a life of not being maternal, and who do not mother those around them. Mothers' Day is not about them.
Mothers' Day IS about Mothers.
In church on Sunday, our Pastor read a letter by Amy Young entitled An Open Letter to Pastors -- a letter about Mothers' Day from the perspective of a non-mother. Her letter said a lot, and you can google if you wish to read the the entire contents, and her letter had some great points. What I liked best though, was the way she suggested honoring MOTHERS -- all types. She doesn't talk about all women, but she does talk about all mothers.
Thank you, Amy Young, for your beautiful thoughts:
To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
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