Most of my life I have been the daughter celebrating my mother on Mother’s Day.

I am lucky to say that I’ve always gotten along with my mom and she’s always been supportive of me. She has taught me more than anyone in my life and has shaped me into the person I am today. Her unconditional love, understanding, and listening ear have taught me how love should be and I’m lucky enough to still have her here to call on whenever I need her. It is a love that can never be duplicated and I can’t imagine life without her. She is one of my richest blessings and I love her dearly!

There are a few other ladies in my life that I’ve come to think of as my “moms”. These ladies have shown me that mothering can come in many forms of love.

Through these relationships I’ve been continuously encouraged and, as a result: I’ve shown more love to others; I’ve learned how to do things better and learned how to be better; I’ve shared my successes and failures and my feelings of joy and inadequacy; and in all of this I’ve been shown love and grace and mercy time and time again. I’ve been mothered from all directions, in all areas, in every season of my life.  I’ve been richly blessed by these relationships and I’m a better person thanks to the love they have shown me.

Now that I’ve had a few years of being a mother myself, I wonder if I’ve made a difference in the lives of my kids like these wonderful ladies have made in my life? Have I been that person for them?

I can’t answer for them but I know that I have felt the rewards of being a mother to all four of my kids. We have celebrated together; We have laughed through the tears; We have hugged through the hard times; And we have come to understand each other a little better every day. It has been confusing and hard and happy and fun and I have loved them through it all.

Today I am so thankful.

Thankful for having a mother, being a mother, and looking forward to being a grandmother. I hope you have as many blessings as I have to count today.

Happy Mother’s Day!