To all Mothers, and Grandmothers, waving from the stadiums of Heaven, to those currently on earth, and to those in future realms who will advocate for children everywhere, administering cheer and chicken soup, attending sports events, and showering love upon all-from successful freckled fresh scrubbed future vice presidents to the dismal trouble makers-her arms reach far and wide enough to include all. To daughters who dream, who take the time and self discipline to master subjects and grow in confidence to know what they can do well and how they can contribute to the world-at different places on our journey we recognize those budding scientists and doctors- girls who nurture speckled diseased plants, and bring gifts of healing to the garden of  thriving flowers-blessings to those who connive to adopt the runt of the litter; to those who sweetly follow instruction, and do not turn to the right or the left; may we all know in deeper ways, the sacrifice of a Mothers love; prayers and admiration to the rebels- those who learn the best lessons-(some even later rather than sooner), though in the hardest ways they stick at a certain juncture; for those who march to their own drum, inspire others, turning up the volume of their own music that comes from somewhere deep within-God bless those who have learned that the spirit of Jesus goes against the grain of high minded Society, political correctness, or a “religious spirit.”
 
Applause and tough love for those bleeding hearts who plead their cause and root for all the underdogs and friends with strange colored hair, and wayward hearts; forgiveness and second chances  to Mothers who did not know a Mothers love and have sacrificed a child for a crack pipe or a sweet talking boy; paralyzed in captivity, and broken in spirit, they spend the rest of their lives trying to fill the void; in lamentation we as Mothers grieve for the plight of the unwanted yet invaluable unborn; not all were conceived in love, but are Gods creation and vision none the less- May those who have found a way to reunite with lost family find warmth and connection in a cold world-may we all remember the alien, be generous with our time and resources to the orphans, Fatherless and cherish the concept of kindness to strangers as God reminded the Israelites, that they were once strangers in a strange land-.we celebrate in spirit with you and remember the
balding dolls retrieved from those “good will” baskets, the very same forsaken for pretty or newer looking dolls. As an act of penance, we redeemed them and washed their dirt smudged vinyl faces. For those who deny or admit they emulate their own Mothers-who have their guilty chocolate pleasures like she or show a  vulnerable side; than there are those who wish they had her patience, or ease around the kitchen-and who can’t hem a dress let alone do cross stitching religiously in the late hours of the night; may you too show interest in people, and keep your lamp burning at night like the proverbial Grandmother, nurturing with warm soup, clean bedding and a cheerful heart, covering over another’s offence or annoying habit that someday after all, you might shrug off or find hilarious with some wisdom and understanding. May you too bring the beauty and final touches to a homemade card for a sick relative.

How many times as a toddler did you watch the ladies of the household and imitate acts of kindness, rocking bedraggled teddy bears to sleep and reciting poems in half sentences-none the less a great comfort to yourself as you rocked yourself to sleep when Mama had already gotten up numerous times in the night with the binky and the hot water bottle?-we learn what to do, or in some case what not to do, from our own Mothers.  To all who yearn to love and be loved and carry on a legacy for years to come, Happy Mothers Day-bless all of you whoever or wherever you are, who carry a Mothers song though you might not ever harbor a child in your womb. For Mothers who have heard and answered an inner call to adopt a child in his/her infancy, childhood, or beyond and for those who follow that calling, we salute you.

I think of Sandra Bullock– not only an Oscar winner and respectable seasoned actress, but an emerging leader and inspiration among women with her bravery, and eyes to see beyond and separate the ugly part of a cheating spouse from the goodness of his heart-no doubt, she will take and utilize the lessons of the love she saw in his parenting and devotion to her on different levels; not an easy feat for many-couldn’t we more learn from her show of respect, stoicism, faith, and “equality for all” philosophy that she appears to live by as well as pledge allegiance to. She admits she is sad and frightened about her life and what lies ahead, but she is stronger than she thinks as she relies on her faith in God and willingness to start anew focused on the important and precious resources of our world-children. Her love for little Louis is evident from not only the beautiful black and white pages captured in People magazine, but from a inner light-hers is a spirit, which radiates a calming mind, and beauty that cant be hidden from the public or fully captured by the lens of a camera.

Cynthia Lamanna may be reached at cynthialamanna@yahoo.com and welcomes thoughts and reactions from others.