On Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day, a day NOT invented by the Hallmark Corporation. This is a day when we honor the mothers in our lives. It's a day fraught with emotion, for a host of reasons. How do you honor the woman who gave you life? How do you honor the woman that gave your children life?  How do you honor the woman who gave your spouse life? It's a conundrum, I tell you.

Bart Simpson tried it.  He tried getting, and I quote, "a real boss tattoo" honoring his mother, Marge, but that plan was thwarted mid-ink.  That's probably a good thing as the world could do with a lot less tattoo-covered people.  Seriously, that plague has got to be stopped.  Disney has found a simpler solution.  Just turn on the killing machine and eliminate mothers entirely.  Think about your favorite Disney movie. Is there a mother?  If there is, how long before she was killed off?  Yep, it's not good.  If you're a mom in a Disney movie, you are as good as dead.  Lovely message. Just lovely.

The media is clearly not the solution for honoring the mothers in your life.  Mothers gave each of us life.  What greater gift is there? When you think about all that you've experienced in this life, you realize none of it would have happened without the gift of life a mother gave you.  I've been at the side of the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML as she delivered each of three children.  There is nothing more amazing, humbling, terrifying, and sweet than seeing your wife go, literally, to the edge to bring a new life into this world.  I think about it and realize again there is no greater gift.  I think my children know how lucky they are to have been raised by such an incredible woman.  They are who they are because of the influence, teaching, and example of their mom. I am so fortunate to have found a partner, a friend, a woman like the stunningly patient and mighty fine SML.

Here's the thing about mothering though.  You don't have to go through childbirth to be a mother to someone.  I've made no secret here about being adopted.  My mother did not give birth to me.  So what?  She is still my mother.  Always has been and always will be.  I couldn't have asked for a better mother. My mom is amazing. My mother-in-law has mothered me as well and she didn't sign up for that gig at all.  She raised my wife to be an incredible mother and I am most grateful for that.

Be grateful for the mothers in your lives.  I like this verse from the Old Testament:

A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish man despiseth his mother. 

Proverbs 15:20

Don't be foolish. Love the mothers in your lives.