So, today's "Mother's Day".. the day when "lost" children go to church with their mommas, the women of the world who have brought life are taken to dinner, made breakfast in bed, and given presents to say "thank you" for their efforts. And while I myself called my own mother this morning, I wonder about the wanna-be mothers, the women who desire nothing more in their lives than the tug of a newborn nursing on their breast, the thump of a kick in their belly, and the unconditional love that fills the heart of a mother with the birth of their child. I find myself reflecting on the women who found themselves in circumstances that made the joy of childbirth impossible and they had to terminate the life within them. The ones whose bodies said, I can't do it, now is not the time. What about those women?
I know that many of you are thinking that this is an inappropriate post for Mother's Day, but I'm a mother and a woman, so I think I'll post whatever I want. Because maybe somewhere out there, some one esle is thinking this same thing. I find myself wishing we were a species that didn't require holidays to remind us to love and express that love to those around us. I'm thinking that we would enjoy life so much more.. now, the economists might not like this. After all, we wouldn't feel obligated between November and December 25th to go into debt and spend money we should be saving just to express the affection that we should be giving all year long. We wouldn't need roses at Valentine's Day to say "I love you", or golf clubs in June to say "thank you" to the men in our lives who accept and exceed in their roles as fathers.
And I'm not saying that I'm not grateful for Mother's Day and all the well wishes that I'm receiving today. What I am saying is that I know women who want nothing more than the joy, pain, and frustration I experience every day as a mother and it is a station in life they will never achieve. And to me, the birthing of a child is not what makes you worthy of praise on this day. It is the heart that matters. How many of us were raised by someone physical body had nothing to do with our birth? Aunties, neighbors, "mothers" of our churches.. they were there too. And their sacrifice is sometimes even more praiseworthy because they weren't obligated to you. There was something inside them that made them give when they didn't have to, be there when they could've been somewhere else, sacrifice themselves for us. Those are mothers.
The teacher whose classroom is filled with her "babies" - she's a mother. The woman whose womb is barren but her heart is filled with love for every child she lays her eyes on... she's a mother. Maybe not by definition, but by exception - by default - by what really counts. She is. I know this seems idealistic. The stuff that just isn't reality because we live in a world where people are defined by their titles and achievements, but I would like to believe that most of us LIVE differently. We regard those who have been there for us, touched us, and loved us no matter what as what they truly are - Family. We all have Aunt Ps, who are no blood relation, Ms. Shirleys, who had to be given the title as Godmother just so something worthy would apply, and Nannys, who live across the street and are always willing to give you their ear as well as a cup of sugar when needed. Those are the mothers. Along with the ones who birthed you, raised you, prayed over you as you slept, worried themselves sick that they weren't doing it right. They are all mothers. So, to you mothers... Happy Mother's Day!
No comments:
Post a Comment