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Fr. Simon's Letter - May 12, 2024
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Happy Mother’s Day! Every culture and nation honors mothers in a particular way. It is because we know instinctively the gift of a mother, she who carried us in her womb, the first home, before we were offered to our family or to the world.
I recognize that this role of “mom” does not need to fit a strict definition of woman who birthed us. So, this Mother’s Day let us honor and remember all the relationships we have with the women in our lives who are important to us, both young and old, alive and dead. We can choose to reflect upon and celebrate mothers, step-mothers, grandmothers, godmothers, aunts, sisters, wives, girlfriends, friends, colleagues, mentors, daughters, nieces, and granddaughters.
Having said this, it is unfortunately easy to miss some mothers and women on this day. Allow me to share with you something I received from a parishioner a few years ago. Happy Mother’s Day!
To those who gave birth this year to their first child – we celebrate with you.
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you.
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and
wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you.
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away – we mourn with you.
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes,
prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you.
Forgive us when we say foolish things.
We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms,
and spiritual moms – we need you.
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you.
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you.
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you.
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience.
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst.
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year –
we grieve and rejoice with you.
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising – we anticipate with you.
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you.
Mothering is not for the faint of heart and
we have real warriors in our midst.
We remember you.
Blessings!!
