Mother’s Day. Just seeing those words strikes sadness into the hearts of a lot of people. For lots of different reasons, not everyone gets that happy, loving, feeling inside when this day rolls around each year.

It doesn’t matter if your mom died, left, drank, or quit…sometimes thinking about the woman who gave birth to you brings pain. I’m sorry about that for so many reasons.

I, personally have a fantastic Mama. She has loved me and been there for me every day of my life. I can’t be thankful enough for her and the influence she has had on my life. And  it makes me feel guilty sometimes, especially when I know there are other people who would give anything to have had a real mother in their life.

There was a span of six years in my life when I would have given my right arm to wear the title of Mama. I had gotten to the point where I couldn’t even handle going to church on this day because it caused me so much pain. All I wanted was a baby to hold and call mine. I almost let it ruin my life….almost.

I remember that feeling, that hurt, and that desire. I remember crying out to God and begging Him for a baby of my own. I remember being jealous of all of the other women who didn’t “deserve” to be a mother. How terribly wrong I was!!

See, God loves us. He made us in His image. He knows our hearts were made to love. He knows that for most women the one desire they have above anything else is to have a baby to call their own. God knows this….and He understands how hurt we feel when our prayers go “unanswered”. 

But, guess what? From what I have seen…and what I have experienced…I have realized that He does answer those prayers in surprising ways! There are so many children who are being raised by women who didn’t give birth to them…yet they couldn’t love them more if they had!

If you long for a child “of your own” God will provide that child for you to love. Open your heart…and your eyes to the things you can’t even imagine. Let God use you to show “someone else’s” child the true love of a mother.

I’m thankful that God gave me my two girls. I am also thankful that He gave me so many other children to truly love as well. There are a number of kids that I will count as “mine” for the rest of my life. I could not love them more if I had given birth to them myself. And that’s the whole point.

Love.

We were made to love each other. We were called to love one another above everything else. We were made to love the unlovable…and we have been given LOTS of opportunities to share love. The thing is: Have we done it? Have we tried to love children who aren’t “ours”?

I see all of you ladies out there who have…and the world needs more women like you!!! So, to all of you women out there who don’t hold the worlds definition of “Mother” on this Mother’s Day let me say “HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY TO YOU”!!

Our world is a better place because of your unselfish love. Millions of people are being impacted because you care to give of yourself and go beyond what is required. You girls are making a difference in the lives of children everywhere…and I want to say thank you!

Keep on being the light. Keep on giving your time and resources. Keep on helping those kiddos who can’t help themselves…and keep on giving love from your “mother’s heart”.

You aren’t unnoticed or unappreciated! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you who wear the REAL title of Mother! The difference you are making can’t be matched just because someone gave physical birth to the child you love. Children know who truly love them…and they won’t ever forget it!