Mothers....

Yesterday the United States recognized mothers with a celebration of Mother's Day. It is quite an honor as a mother to be recognized by others for the selfless job that you do in raising your children or honoring the woman that raised you. We have to remember that not everyone has had the opportunity to give birth or adopt. Other women may not have the loving and kind mother that is seen as the epitome of the mother everyone wants. Our society needs to be sensitive in their neglect of those women.

As women, in my opinion, we are all mothers. Our nurturing nature is a mothering nature. My friend, who is a teacher, has never given birth. However, she is such a loving and nurturing spirit that has mothered hundreds of children over the years. Another friend, who is a plastic surgeon hasn't found her life partner but has mothered the many patients who she serves. The lady who sits in church on Mother's Day Sunday, alone on the back row, mothers through her dedication in the Sunday School room. So many ways, we as women mother those around us.

I have had the honor to give birth to three amazing young men. This past week I was thrilled to celebrate the graduation of my middle child from University!!!  As a mother, the achievements of our children are the happiest of moments. Their disappointments penetrate us deeply with hurt. My son has not been accepted to Medical School, yet. He doesn't know what the next step for his life is. I as a mother want to fix it but know that it is a process of learning and character building. So, I choose to stand tall and celebrate the accomplishment of my Double Degree earning son! Four years of college and two degrees! Graduating Magna Cum Laude from the Honors College! Oh the joys and celebrations!!! 

I thank all the women who have come alongside of me and mothered my son. Mothers of his friends, women teachers, female advisors and professors, my girlfriends and other women in our lives, my sisters, all have had a mothering influence in my sons' lives.

I also want to acknowledge the women who have had great influence on my life because without their guidance and leading I wouldn’t have been able to nurture my boys into adulthood. Since there are too many to name and I am afraid I will leave someone near and dear out I will not list them but know they have been beside me, on my heart and my mind throughout my time of mothering.

I have returned home ready to begin another celebration, the celebration of high school graduation for my youngest son. He will graduate in less than two weeks. This graduation will take me into a new season of my life, the season of an empty nest. However, I am seeing the empty nest theory is failing, as my boys like to come home after graduation until they find their way into their future. The next season of my life is more of a season of renewing, of beginning. Renewing the relationship with my husband where we have no schedule; other than ours, beginning the future with time together and only answering to each other.  Again I thank the women, mothers, in my life, that have taught me the importance of keeping my marriage alive, keeping our friendship vibrant and prioritizing our marriage. Now as we head into this empty nest we are not doing having to repair a relationship but refreshing it.

This next season of my mothering won't just be of my adult children but of the women that I come in contact with when I write and speak. Hopefully when I am blessed with daughter-in-laws by mentoring will also be embraced as I will embrace the nurturing they extend. My mothering duties are not complete and will never be. Every woman is a mother. 

Thank you women! We are powerful and nurturing. We are leaders and supporters. We are strong and sensitive. We are mothers of many whether from our bodies or our hearts. Keep preparing the next generation to be leaders of our community, the community of the world. Keep hugging and crying and disciplining while being there for those who are younger and each other.

What can I pray for you as you continue to nurture and mother those around you? Who can you become a mother figure to? Are there people in your life that you need to thank for being that mother figure to you? Are there women around you that may not have given birth to children but are making an impact in the lives of others? Can you find a way to thank them?