For many people, Mother’s Day is hard. Losing my mom as a young mom myself, I struggled for many years figuring out how to celebrate or if I even wanted to celebrate. And that’s ok. It’s normal to feel that way. Being a motherless mother is hard. Being a mother is hard.

As I reflect back on Mother’s Day past, I have always gravitated towards simplicity. Whether it was going out to eat or requesting a day to myself, I can see that I’ve always liked it simple. This year was no different. For me, at this point in my life, the best Mother’s Day I could have is one filled with simple things. I slept in a bit after a bad night of sleep and while I was getting ready for church I texted my hubby what I wanted to do later that day. I said, “Today I would like device free family time. I’d like to play a game together and watch Mom’s Night Out. And I’d like ice cream sundaes tonight. Maybe we can stop at the store after basketball and pick out ice cream and toppings.” This was so hard for me. I think that a lot of times as moms we forget that there are things that we need or want. We are always looking out for the best interests of everyone else, always trying to make everyone else happy, that we lose little bits of ourselves along the way. I’ve learned over the years that when my husband says, “what do you want to do on Mother’s Day?” That I should honor and respect myself enough to search my soul, figure out what I want to do, and allow my people to make it happen for me.

The best gifts in life are the simple ones. Laughing at my favorite movie together, diving across the table for the last spoon in SPOONS, eating dinner as a family, reading Mother’s Day cards that tell me I’m the best mom ever. We spend so much time thinking that we are failing, but I can’t help but wonder what my kids see. I guess they see what I see when I look at them. Because even on the days they screw up, even on the days they are fighting with each other, even on the days when it feels like the world is against them, even on the days when they are driving me the most crazy, I still love them. I guess through all those moments they love me the same. Even when I lose my temper, even when I say no, even when I can’t be everything to everybody, even when I am having a bad day, even when I screw up, they still love me too.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Father God, thank you for making me a mother. Thank you for the gift of my kids that you have entrusted to my care. Thank you that you love them more than I ever could. Thank you for forming them together in my womb and for breathing life into their bodies. Thank you God that you know the number of hairs on their heads and that you have a plan for their lives. Thank you God for moms. It is a hard job. I’m so thankful that I’m not navigating this journey of motherhood on my own, that I can come to you in prayer anytime with any request. You are an awesome God. Lord I lift up any moms out there who are struggling for any reason. Please give them wisdom and peace that is beyond understanding. I pray you would show yourself to them so that if they are walking this life alone, they can stop and walk it with you. I pray for motherless mothers, for grandmothers, for new moms, for pregnant moms, for aunts, and for the women who want to be mother’s but can’t, be with all of these women. I pray all of this is Jesus name Amen.

On another note, if you have never seen Mom’s Night Out, I highly recommend it. It’s my go to, feel good, inspirational, hilarious, family movie. I relate to the main character on so many levels, I think this movie was made just for me. You can rent or buy it on Amazon Prime.