I woke up on May 1 to an inbox full of emails:
- Stitch Fix—Want to Give Mom Something Special?
- Walgreens Photo—Get Mom’s Gift in Time with 40% Off
- Apple—Show Mom your <3 with gifts she’ll <3
- Lightstock (stock photography)—Celebrating Mothers
And they just keep coming. It’s out of control—they really think I should buy lamination supplies to celebrate? Don’t get me wrong, I love office supplies more than the average bear. But still.
The thing is, Mother’s Day is the holiday I like least. It’s never been a particular favorite anyway, but since Mom died almost seven years ago, I’ve really loathed it. Some days I feel as though I must be totally alone in this. After all, when someone at church mentioned that this is the month of Mother’s Day, people cheered. Apparently, I’m an anomaly—but I don’t think I’m alone.
So I just want to say a few things to some of you who might be reading this.
To the woman who loves her kids but is exhausted and just wants someone else to clean up the kitchen for once…
To the woman who had to somehow walk away from the grave of her child, or spend months in hospitals watching her suffer, and lives in fear that they’ll find themselves back in that place again…
For the woman who has felt lost ever since her mom left this earth…
To the one whose mother really screwed up her head…
To the one who misses the grandmother who essentially raised her…
To the one whose child has cut her out of his life for reasons she cannot understand…
To the one who wonders if she’ll live long enough to finish raising her child…
To the woman who quietly mourns the child she miscarried, that no one wants to talk about…
To the mom who chose to let another family raise her baby but never stops thinking about him…
To the one who’s overwhelmed by all that her kids demand…
To the mother whose teen is out of control, who lies awake at night wondering what she did wrong…
To the one who always wanted a baby but the timing was never right…
To those who went through crazy amounts of medical intervention (or months of ashamed silence) waiting for the stripe on the pregnancy test to finally show up, but it never did…
To the woman whose mom means well but drives her crazy…
To the woman whose mom doesn’t mean well and is just flat-out mean…
For the one who is watching her mom (and her memories) gradually fade away…
To the one whose body aches from the hard work of being her mother’s caregiver…
For the one who has a dysfunctional relationship with a mom or step-mom or mother-in-law…
For the one whose mom lives halfway around the world wearing a soldier’s uniform…
To the one who raised a strong, independent child whose career took her far away from home…
For the woman whose mom disapproves of her…
For the one who struggles and fails to make the right choices…
To the woman who chose not to become a mom, but no one seems to understand…
To the one whose mom wants nothing to do with her…
For the one who has no help at home and no one to remind the kids to celebrate you…
To the one whose memories of her childhood bring sadness rather than joy…
To the one who never had anyone show her what it looked like to be a good mom…
For the one who doesn’t know why, but just feels ambivalent about this day…
To all the women who struggle to celebrate, for whatever reason…
I acknowledge you. I see you. I feel for you. I hurt for you.
And I want you to know this: in spite of your pain, because of your pain, I celebrate you today.
Even if people don’t seem to see what you do. Even if your wants and needs and actions are overshadowed by everyone else’s. Even if you feel as though no one else understands. Even if no one acknowledges you today. Even if there is nothing about this day that makes you happy.
Because you are wonderful. I am praying for you to find the strength to get through this holiday. The good humor to endure. The grace to forgive those who hurt you. The ability to smile, and someone with whom you can trust your true feelings. The faith to believe that God can heal whatever is broken inside—and for you to believe me when I say you are worth celebrating.
I see you today—and God sees you every day. You are not alone.
And you are so very loved.