This Mother's Day

As I sit here looking at Kaleigh smile and hit her rattle on her play mat, I cannot help but think of how thankful I am to be her mommy. This is the first Mother's Day for me to actually be a mother. Sometimes it seems surreal and sometimes I feel like it's been this way forever. But Mother's Day has not always been such a happy time for me, and I know for many others this day is such a struggle. My challenge to you this Mother's Day is to be sensitive. Yes, celebrate your mom. Yes, celebrate being a mom. But be sensitive. Here are different types of women you are going to encounter on Mother's Day:

1. More than likely you will be around a woman who desperately wants a child, but cannot conceive. Mother's Day is probably extremely hard for her. The one thing she wants to be, yet can't be, is "in her face" all day (really weekend) long. That's hard. The last two Mother's Days have been really sad for me. There was such a longing in my heart yet it was unfulfilled. Be sensitive to this woman.

2. You also will probably be around a woman who has lost her child either through miscarriage or death. Oh how my heart hurts for these women. Their child was suppose to be there to celebrate with them, yet he/she isn't and it has to be so heartbreaking. I'm sure there is not a day that goes by they don't think about their child, but I would have to think Mother's Day would just bring it more to the forefront of their mind. Be aware of these women and be sensitive to them.

3. Another person you will be around is someone who has lost their mother. I don't know if I've ever said on the blog, but my mother passed away when I was 15. Mother's Day is really hard for those of us who don't have our mom here to celebrate. For me, it was over 15 years ago that my mom died and Mother's Day still makes me miss her terribly. It's like those who have lost children, you think about that person every day, but this holiday just puts it in front of you more. Some people have lost their mother recently and the wound is still so fresh. Be sensitive to these women.

You need to know you will be around these women this weekend and that this weekend is probably very hard for them. Be sensitive in the words you speak to them and in what you talk about. You may have no idea that you are talking to a woman who struggles with any of those, but just be aware that they are out there. If you do know someone who is one of these women, let them know you are thinking about them and use this as a day to encourage them and pray for them.

Again, I know that isn't an exhaustive list of who Mother's Day is hard for, but my encouragement is to just be aware of all the situations and respond appropriately. I will spend the day being celebrated and celebrating my mother-in-law, but I will also spend the day praying for many sweet friends who are in the middle of some of these struggles. I encourage you to do the same!