Joyous Mother’s Day to all mothers out there.

To all grandmothers.

To all stepmothers.

To all daughters and sons of wonderful mothers.

To all daughters and sons of mothers who did their best, even if it didn’t feel good enough. After all, every woman with children, I believe, does the best she can.

To all women who may not have been a mother, but who acted in a motherly role to help bring up a child.

To all women who wanted to be a mother, but were not able to become one.

To all women who gave birth, but lovingly gave their baby to someone they knew could take better care of this gift of life.

To all women who adopted these gifts of life.

To all women who had to give their child back to the heavens. They come through us on loan, not from us.

To all women who are preparing to say goodbye to their mothers, as their time is nearing.

To all women who still have their mothers here on earth, but who may not recognize them as their child.

To all daughters and sons who lost their mother to COVID, a form of loss none of us ever dreamed of.

To all daughters and sons whose mothers battle, or did battle addiction, or other demons.

To all mothers whose children battle addiction, or other demons.

To all mothers who are estranged from their children.

To all children who are estranged from their mothers.

To all mothers who are away from their children in service to our country. ‘Thank you for your service’ will never be enough words of gratitude, but we offer them to you today, and every day.

To all children whose mothers are away in service to our country. Your mother is a hero.

To all mothers whose children are away in service to our country. Your child is a hero.

To all grandmothers and sometimes great-grandmothers who raised their grandchildren, even if they would rather not have.

To all daughters and sons, like me and my siblings, who celebrate our mothers who were taken from us too soon. This, I have come to learn, is anyone who has lost their mother, as we are never old enough to let go.

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I have chosen to say ‘Joyous,’ rather than ‘Happy’ Mother’s Day. ‘Happy,’ by definition, is a fleeting emotion. It is fickle, often here and, without warning, gone again. And, as I have come to learn, many people do not feel happy on Mother’s Day.

‘Joy,’ by the definition I am choosing, is the deeply held spirit of acceptance and contentment, which is present even when the circumstances we find ourselves in do not make us happy. Deep in our hearts we may feel sadness, but we know it, too, is fleeting. We know we will find a higher place of this acceptance within, realizing that we were given a precious gift that we can choose to savor, rising above the darkness that may remain.

I know that I was given a precious gift in my mother, and I had her here for almost 42 years. Gail had her for 48; Suzanne had her for 37. We know how lucky we were.

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I am celebrating the day with one of my three sons, and my delightful mother-in-law as well. I know that all my children are always in my heart, even if they aren’t with me today. And that gift is enough for today.

I know, too, that my mother is in my heart, more deeply every day. And that gift is enough for every day of the year.

My hope for you this Mother’s Day is that you know both happiness and joy, no matter what your circumstances are. If you need it, I hope the healing power of time is with you, as it is with us.

JOYOUS MOTHER’S DAY–HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TOO

One of my favorite pictures of our mom with Suzanne’s daughter, Julia.