This Mother’s Day Tribute is a way to honor my Mom and all of the mothers in my life. To clarify, I don’t mean mothers in the strictest definition…I’m referring to all of the women who have poured into me.
I’m a firm believer that Mother’s Day isn’t just for your typical mother. Specifically, it’s a day to celebrate all of the strong women in our lives who invest in us and those around us. Within blended families, single-parent families, adoptive families, church families, neighborhood families, and any type of community you’ve experienced, mothers exist among all of them.
Though this is primarily an acknowledgment of one particular mother, I want you to know that I see all of you and am grateful from the bottom of my heart.
Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:4 NIV).
To My Mom on Mother’s Day
Happy Mother’s Day to the woman who:
- Dragged me to the emergency room as a baby when I had an asthma attack and didn’t listen to them when they told her nothing was wrong
- Refused to deny me the experience of playing football in high school because she wanted me to make my own choices and live a life without regret
- Taught me a sense of individual style and how to put a proper outfit together with multiple components (my mom is really cute!)
- Prayed and prays for me every single day of my life (it breaks my heart to think that there are people out there who don’t have someone who prays for them every day)
- Sent numerous cooking magazines as an encouragement to me, her culinary-challenged daughter, when I decided to learn to cook (those magazines still come!)
- Stood for 14+ hours to see me for a cumulative total of a few minutes during multiple Ironman triathlons and spent an entire weekend as part of the ultra-crew for the hundred-miler (even though my mom hates to sweat and has no idea why I like to exercise)
- Answered the phone and listened to my tear-filled rants surrounding every jackass I’ve ever dated (this is HUGE… there have been QUITE a few!)
- Tells me how proud she is of me EVERY time (wherever and whenever) she sees me
- Encouraged me to write years before I ever believed I could do it
- (trust me, I could go on and on…)
I am who I am in part because she is who she is.
Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well (Psalm 139:13-14).
To All My Other Moms
I’d like to also give a special shout out to some other “mothers:”
- Linda Monk for being one of my first spiritual moms
- Grace Meeks for showing me what it means to be a strong woman in ministry
- Kim Sheldon who was the first fan of my blog (besides my own mom)
- Lori Lockemy for mentoring me and helping me address some big questions in my life
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. (Proverbs 31:26).
We all have people in our corners. Sometimes we take them for granted and they go unnoticed.
But, this is the day we remember them… the women who have made a difference, past or present. This is the moment where we salute them as our hearts fill with thankful love in honor of their presence or their memory.
Maybe you think your contribution as a mother-figure is small, but I’m here to tell you that it isn’t. It means everything to me.
I never stand alone. I always stand with these women beside and behind me.
Happy Mother’s Day.
Love, K.
Beautifully stated Kelly.
Mother’s Day is a day of roller coaster emotions for me. My own mother gone way too soon. The bonus daughters who love and honor me. The nephews who will always be ‘my boys’ because they lived in my home for a time when they needed refuge. And all the spiritual daughters I’ve mentored thru the years.
I think it’s a roller coaster for a lot of people. I hope that “mothers” of all types feel honored.
Best yet Ms. Kelly. I know what you mean my friend; I have four “Mama Betty’s” in our little church. Each of them are like a mama to me. They nurture me, pray for me, encourage me, and give me a good swift kick in the pants when needed. I treasure each of my spiritual mothers. I am convinced they are “stand-ins” for my own saintly mother who cheers me on from the other side of heaven. Thank you for this precious post ma’am.
Aren’t they the best? I don’t know where I would be without my spiritual moms. 🙂
What a sweet post to remember moms of all types in your life! Those are precious relationships for you, but I’m sure they’re precious relationships to those women, too! Seems like the road must go both ways, and I know all of you are grateful for that! Thanks for the reminder to keep those seemingly “little” things in mind to treasure and appreciate!
Very nice tribute to your mom and all moms in general!
I love you so much. YOU have taught me to get out of my box. I try but I could never be as strong as you. I love you always.
I CAME from you! I love you, too!!!
So beautiful. Dad and I are crying. Thank you.
You guys are the best! Love you!
Loved your post. We should honor those special women more often, but I’m glad there is a day to remind us. You’ve encouraged me to remember and honor those “other” mothers in my life.