A Mother's Day message for those who are suffering

As we celebrate mothers and Mother’s Day, take time to stand with those for whom Mother’s Day is a painful reminder…

…of babies never conceived, of babies conceived and lost before birth, of babies born too early,

…of heartache and loss, of difficult decisions, of impossible choices

…of abuse, neglect or abandonment

…of children who have died, who are missing or who are incarcerated.

…of mothers who have died, who have disappeared or who are incarcerated.

…of what was, of what wasn’t, and of what will never be the same again.

Those for whom Mother’s Day is difficult are our neighbors, our friends, our loved ones – they are sitting near us – and their pain is real.

As we celebrate mothers and Mother’s Day, take time to stop: see who is present, notice who is missing, pay attention to those who may be having a difficult time and reach out - how (or whether) we reach out is an expression of our “mothering” one another.

Peace to you and yours, kk