For all the Moms out there, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers
in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Meyer wieners and
cherry Kool-Aid, saying "It's okay honey, Mommy's here."

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying
babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in
their hair, milk stains on their blouses, and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew
Halloween costumes… and all the mothers who don't.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see,
and the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging
on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at
football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of
their cars, so that when their kids asked, "Did you see me, Mom?"
they could say, "Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the
world!" and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery
store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream
for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to
ten instead, realizing how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and
explained all about making babies. And for all the mothers who
wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go hungry so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read "Goodnight, Moon" twice a night for a
year. And then read it again, "Just one more time."

This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their
shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who
opted for Velcro, instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook, and their
daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a
little voice calls "Mom?" in a crowd, even though they know their
own offspring are at home – or away at college.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with
stomach aches, assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got
there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking
them to please pick them up… right away.

This is for the mothers who children have gone astray, who can't
find the words to reach them.

For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their
14 year old dyes their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and
the mothers of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front
of their TV in horror, hugging their child who just came home from
school, safely.

This is for the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful,
and now pray they come home safely from war.

What makes a good Mother anyway?

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a
shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart.

Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter
disappear down the street, walking to school alone for the very
first time.

The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2
AM to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby.

The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 AM when you just want
to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your
home.

Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when
you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are universal, and so our thoughts are
for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep
deprivation…

And mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This for all of you, for all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can only do the best we can…
tell them every day that we love them… and pray.