This past week, social media was flooded with mommy videos, that include, “what mom really wants for mother’s day”, funny mom stories, and my favorite, the tear jerking videos that reveal the truths about all the mommies of the world. Each video, whether it was a satire or heart felt, hold the same common truth about moms. We will do just about anything for our kids even when it makes us crazy.

I always enjoy my mother’s day. My husband and children go to great lengths to show me they love and appreciate me (I’m glad it’s a forced day to do so otherwise, I’m not sure it would ever happen). My favorite part of mother’s day is honoring the mothers in my life. I have the most incredible sisters and mom; they are true gems to me. Being far away from them is hard but my appreciation for each of them travels the miles.

Each of my sisters at some point, have been a mother to my children, “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children,” 1Thess. 2:7.  My older sister Megan took my eldest daughter, Natalie, every time Olivia had a surgery. I didn’t have to ask. She just expected that Natalie would be hers for the following weeks of surgery and recovery. What my sister did for me was give me the gift of peace of mind. Natalie was loved on and well taken care of when I needed to be at the recovery bed of my sick one. She was mom when I couldn’t be.

Fast forward a few years, when Olivia was diagnosed with PTLD in December. Both my sisters, Erin and Carissa (married to my 2 younger brothers) took turns taking care of Oliver and when the time came that we needed to focus on Olivia’s treatment, Erin and my brother Kevin took Oliver home with them. Again, peace of mind, and I knew he would be well taken care of, well fed, and well loved. Again, how do you repay someone who took over your most precious holy work?

My own mother has given her life to all five of us kids, “But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51.  Whenever we were going through crisis with our Olivia, my mom was a rock I could count on. The sky was the limit as to what she did to support Anthony and me and our family. She is the first example of Christ that I had in my life.

I deeply believe that women have been endowed with one of the greatest gifts given to mankind, the ability to be a mother. Every woman has been micro-chipped with instincts and sacrifice. It’s not a curse, it’s an honor. Not every woman is able to bear life; but to raise life up to glorify Him, YES! All women are called to do that. Some of us have the honor to feel life and have biological children, but our motherhood should not stop there, it should extend out to the whole world. It is our duty to be mothers to all the children of the world.

“Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living.” Genesis 3:20.

A mother’s love is mighty and can help heal hearts. A mother’s love is rich; it sacrifices until the job is done. A mother’s love is universal; it has no bounds to one language. Her love speaks for itself.

I have many mommy friends that have given me incredible examples of being a universal mom. When they have been unable to conceive, they have traveled many miles, sometimes to China or Korea to be a mother to a child who doesn’t have one. They have taken their dark barren hopelessness and made it a light in a child’s life. I know a mommy that has 3 of her own children but still grew her family all the way from the Congo. I know countless mommies that have opened their home and hearts to motherless babies and children. Thank you for showing the world who Christ is. Often times, being a mom is the best platform to spread the message of Christ to everyone around us.

Being a mother should be celebrated. I challenge every woman to embrace that which has been given. It’s not something to be ashamed of and it’s not a crutch, it’s a gift!

“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.” Isaiah 66:13