Whoever you are, wherever you live, you began your life’s journey nestled within the body of your mother.  From the spark of your conception, your mother’s life was changed, irrevocably. The first changes were merely the invisible effects of her hormones, but as you were allowed to grow, you made your presence felt in her swollen breasts, thickening waistline, and all the myriad changes, physical and emotional, of a woman with a new life inside her.

Once through the trauma of your delivery, when you were placed in her arms, the real adventure began.

I have been blessed with three wonderful sons and I well remember the flood of emotions I experienced, at the tender age of nineteen, when I brought my firstborn home and realized this precious person was my responsibility. I was overwhelmed by all of the possible ways I might fail him in the next days of his life. For many mothers, that feeling of responsibility never goes away.

I managed to muddle through and today, despite my many failures and mistakes, my three sons are fine, upstanding men. I’m so very proud of them, but, no matter how independent they are, with families of their own, I still feel the same need to cherish and protect that I felt when I first felt each one flutter beneath my heart.

That’s what it means to be a mother.

On this Mother’s Day, please take a few moments to think about your mother, even if she has left your life. If you are fortunate enough to have her with you, let her know you appreciate just how much giving birth to you changed her life and thank her for choosing to accept the terrible, beautiful responsibility of motherhood.

² “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), – Ephesians 6:2 English Standard Version (ESV)