Here in the States, today is Mother’s Day. May all of you who are mothers feel special and honored!
Did you know that 46 different nations around the globe set aside a day to honor mothers? Their dates may differ from ours, but the sentiment is rich and deep worldwide. Moms matter.
If you were blessed to have a mom who nurtured, comforted, taught and cared for you, who helped shape your values, and led you to discover the pleasures and fun of life, do take time today to remember her, whether she’s with you still or not.
Really remember. Let yourself think back to your childhood, to your earliest memories of her, and then let one memory flow into another, right up to the present day.
If you find yourself moved by some of your memories, or if some of them make you laugh right out loud, wrap those memories in gratitude. Do it for yourself; it will enrich you and let you savor some of the things that helped make you who you are today.
If your mom is still alive, share one or two of those stories with her and thank her. Let her know that you appreciate the way her gifts of time and energy, her words, her touch, her creativity and imagination brought you joy. If your mom is gone, wrap her in your loving thoughts and, in your heart, know that she will feel them.
Some of you who are reading this may not have had a loving mom. If not, think about the person or people who helped to fill her place. Maybe it was a dad, a stepmom, an aunt, a grandmother, a teacher, a neighbor. Remember who nurtured you and made you feel seen and heard, who helped you find your place in the world and gave you a sense of belonging.
A sense of belonging—to a family, to a society—is one of the most important gifts our mothers give us. They help us discover our identities, our talents and strengths. They encourage us to develop our potentials and to have the courage to express them in the world.
But perhaps more than anything else, what our mothers give us is the experience of knowing unconditioned love—a love that overlooks all our foibles and missteps, that forgives, without a second thought, all the ways we hurt her heart, all our wrongs and errors. Moms teach us that we are valuable, and forgivable, and that we matter, no matter what, and always will.
Today is a beautiful day to give some of that back—and to pass it on.
Wishing you a day of special memories and love.
Warmly,
Susan
Image by shanghaistoneman from Pixabay