Yesterday was Mother's day and to all of you who are mothers out there, I hope you had a wonderful day! I look forward to someday being able to celebrate this day with you, as an actual mother.
Mother's Day started years and years ago (I can't tell you how many years ago because it was way before I was born and I'm too lazy to look it up) as a way to honor mothers and celebrate motherhood. Mothers put in so much time in raising their children. They sacrifice, they love, they teach, they praise. A righteous mother is, by my standards at least, the best leader of the world. She raises her children to be smart, couragous, kind, generous, and strong. I've seen this example of a mother in my own mom as well as in her mom (my grandma). And as my sisters have married and had children of their own, I have also seen them become this same kind of mother. I feel grateful every day to have been surrounded by so many righteous mothers throughout my life and I look forward to Mother's day each year so that I can honor these mothers.
But here is what now bothers me about Mother's Day. I don't understand why I (a single, childless woman) am now being honored on a day traditionally set aside for Mothers.
I understand that in todays world people expect to be treated equally and fairly. I get that nobody wants to leave anyone out or make someone feel like a lesser person because they don't happen to have what the person next to them has. I get that nobody wants to offend anyone. I get it. But the truth of the matter is, I am not a mother.
Sure, you can tell me that I have a motherly heart. I think every woman was created to have a motherly heart. You can tell me that I mother my nieces and nephews as well as the sisters in my ward who I visit teach (someone actually told me this yesterday) and that, therefore, makes me a mother. Yes, I get that I can be the "motherly type" to many people, but being the "motherly type" does not make me a mother. And that is not the point of Mother's day.
I don't want to stand up in church and be recognized as a mother on a day that should be reserved for those women who have given up so much of themselves and sacrificed so much of what they have in raising children. They have done more as real mothers than I could ever dream of doing as a "motherly" person. Mother's day is supposed to be about them. Not me. Nor should it be about the 18 year old girl sitting next to you who just graduated from high school unless, of course, she happens to be a mother. If she is, then praise her, honor her, let her know how much you appreciate her for the work she is doing to raise a righteous child of God. I am perfectly fine with that. I promise you will not offend me by honoring her.
When I finally happen to marry and have children of my own, I will gladly stand among those who have given all they have to raise righteous children of God. But for now, please let me sit on the sidelines as a single, childless woman and allow me to honor those who have actually earned the title
Mother.
Being given a gift on Mother's day when I have not yet earned that title is, in my opinion, not necessary. Because of that, I took the gift I was given and gave it to someone who I thought truly deserved it.
My mother.
And here he is with his most favorite aunt! :D
