Mother's Day

I was introduced to this poem on Twitter. It's a blessed reminder of those who have a different road ahead this Mother's Day. We are grateful for each of you and the stories you bring to the mothering journey.

Many thanks to Amy Young. Find her work on The Messy Middle blog.

To those who gave birth this year to their first child - we celebrate you

To those who lost a child this year - we mourn with you

To those of you who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the bade of food stains - we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running way - we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment - we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don't mean to make this harder than it is

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms - we need you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children - we celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heartache, and distance from your children - we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year - we grieve with you

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother - we acknowledge your hurt

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overwhelming testing of motherhood - we are better for having you in our midst

To those who have aborted children - we remember them and you on this day

To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children - we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be

To those who step-parent, we walk with you on these complex paths

To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be - we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests this coming year - we grieve and rejoice with you

To those who placed children up for adoption - we commend your for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expecting and surprising - we anticipate with you

This Mother's Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

Happy Mother's Day!