Happy Mother’s Day
Emma from Manila sms’d me a Mother’s Day prayer which made me laugh cuz I’m not a mother.
Then it got me thinking about what makes a mother, and I remembered something VaLz said to me a while ago – that we don’t have to give birth to someone to be a mother to them. (By the way, VaLz and Ethan are home from their two-month stint on board the M V Doulos – welcome home, you two!)
I told her what a profound statement that was, and she said she’d heard it on the Adoption series that was playing on Astro 11′s Hallmark channel at the time.
But it’s true. We don’t have to have given birth to be mothers. Well, we can’t all be biological mothers, but I think there are other kinds of mothers, too. And I don’t mean foster or stepmothers.
As an aunt, I’ve been called up to help look after my nephew and niece when they were younger. I suppose you can see that as being a mother, but there’s another level of mothering I’m thinking about.
I think we can all be mothers – even the guys – if we feel concern for someone the way a mother typically feels for her children. A concern that includes worrying about them in all areas of their lives.
Makes sense? I’ve felt such concern before, but I won’t go into that.
This year, I’ve seen a proliferation of Mother’s Day postings at the various online forums I participate in. But why is it only on this day once a year that we wish our mothers happy mother’s day?
Someone on the Janis Ian Message Board said everyday is mother’s day. I agree. Or maybe I used to agree. I have a slightly different take about it now, ever since we put mother to live at GT Heritage nursing home.
Now, for me, Mother’s Day is the day I go to visit mother there. That’s usually every Saturday and Sunday.
I think the “official” Mother’s Day came about as a reminder to think of our mothers at least one day a year. The rest of the year, we tend to take our mothers for granted, maybe because we see them often (which could be every day if we live in the same house with them or close by).
It is when we do not see them as often that we think of them more. Or maybe not. Well, I do. I think of my mother a lot. It’s just that due to other obligations, I cannot go to see her, or be with her, everyday.
So, for those of you who do not see your mothers often – I’m thinking especially of mellowbug, deesee and YP – appreciate them when you do.
Here’s the Mother’s Day prayer Emma sent me:
| Lord, BLESS this person dear to me, with all her NEEDS only You can see. Keep her safe in YOUR loving arms for she’s a MOTHER just like me. Amen.” Happy Mother’s Day. |
Happy Mother’s Day to you, too, Emma.
And to all my women friends, if you’re a mother.
And to all my men friends’ wives, if they are mothers.
And to all your mothers, too, who are definitely mothers.
