For the best of mothers:
the good mothers,
those who struggled
who sometimes slipped,
for those who tried
and occasionally failed,
who tired
but never gave up,
we give thanks
and joyful praise;

they did their best,
they saw us through:
the puke and poop,
tantrums and tears,
heart breaks and tummy aches,
the snot and snottiness,
the terrible twos,
the terrifying teens,
throughout it all
they loved us —
invariably.

Those who held us,
hugged us,
and then
trusted us
to let us fly free;
to spread our wings,
to do and dare —
buoyed on their faith
and lifted up
in their never-ending prayers.

We give thanks
and celebrate
those mothers,
honor their lives,
cherish their memories
and shower them
with flowers and candy:
those mothers —
the ones Hallmark believes in,
the ones who love
and are loved;
the only ones
our society professes
to know.

But there are
other mothers,
mothers who hurt
and hate
and manipulate;
women
who seek to destroy
those they brought into being;
to dominate,
demean,
denigrate,
humiliate,
mark and wound
and maim;
women whose cold,
grasping fingers
strangle their children,
clinging, constricting,
controlling —
even from beyond the grave.

We remember them,
with sorrow,
and with pity —
for the joys they denied themselves
and the love lost
to their children.

And we remember
those children
who have not known
a “mother’s love,”
but only its inverse;
who smile and prevaricate,
avoid the subject,
grieving silently,
ashamedly
on Mother’s Day.

We remember them
with tenderness
and compassion;
we lift them up in our love,
hold them gently in our hearts,
and pray
that they may find peace,
and be comforted;
that their hurts
may be healed;
that their suffering
may be acknowledged,
that their lives —
their strength and persistence —
shall be celebrated;
that they shall be assured
of their worth.

On Mother’s Day —
and every day that God gives us —
may we be embodiments
of the best of mothers,
and be true and kind
nurturers and encouragers
of one another;

thus shall we truly honor
and celebrate
the good mothers
who blessed us
with their lives.

      ❦