In just a few hours, the restaurants and churches will be filled with moms being celebrated by their loved ones. Flowers, cards, accolades, and meaningful gifts will be bestowed upon deserving moms wearing lovely new outfits.
Unfortunately, Mother’s Day is not a day of celebration for some. Many dread the traumatic memories and emotional pain that this day triggers. In the midst of our celebrations, we must be sensitive not to impose “forced happiness” on those who associate motherhood with pain. We must remember to send both sensitivity and fervent prayers to those mothers and women who:
Are grieving the loss of a child through disease, gun violence, miscarriage, or other means,
Who are desperately missing their mom who passed away,
Lost custody of their kids during a divorce or other means,
Have suffered the disappointment of not being able to conceive a child yet,
Are being judged harshly for not wanting to have any children,
Have no relationship with their mom due to her toxic behavior, mental health issues or addiction,
Are separated from their mom due to being abused, neglected, abandoned or incarcerated,
Have been rejected by a mom who chose a lover over them,
Have adult children who refuse to speak to them, or a wayward teen who seems to be quickly spiraling downward,
Have been abandoned by mom’s religious choices because they are of a different religion,
Are unappreciated as a Step-Mom, even though they perform all of the duties of a bio mother.
We may not be able to erase all of their pain, but we can show them love and let them know they aren't forgotten. We can be courageous enough to show up emotionally and not allow their pain to scare us away. So this Mother’s Day, while you’re having big fun, make sure you check on that mom who needs a kind word of encouragement. Let’s make a vow to leave no mother and no woman behind on Mother’s Day.
Have a Happy and Blessed Mother’s Day to All!
