Happy Mother’s Day, everyone! Hopefully many of you are or have already done everything humanly possible to show all of the mothers in your life the appreciation and gratitude they justly deserve. We hope we are not alone in hoping the deepest wishes and desires of every mother out there be granted on this special day.
Yet, in talking with Valley mothers in the past few days, the idea of dedicating one single day out of the year to honor mothers hardly seemed sufficient. As most would agree, the women in our lives — and this rings especially true for those who are mothers — always seem to be putting the needs of others before their own. For that reason, going a day without expressing one’s gratitude toward such selfless beings is just as offensive as thinking one day of praise is adequate.
While in modern times, there has been much shifting trends in birth rates and family compositions here and abroad, motherhood still seems to be an aspiration for many. The U.S. Census Bureau reported that 53 percent of women ages 15 to 50 were mothers in 2010. The Bureau also reported that 88 percent of women 40-44 had given birth as of 2008.
That cultures the world over respected and honored women and motherhood for their role in sustaining life itself also underscores our collective awe and need to pay tribute. Call it a maternal instinct, a feminine attribute that men don’t seem to express in quite the same comforting and nurturing way, but women deserve much credit for instilling in their offspring the capacity to love.
Life, and love, owe a great deal to women. That much is undisputable. And what is also evident after speaking with local mothers is their express desire that we all strive to show our human companions the compassion and understanding that everyone deserves.
No doubt such a request would be a challenge for some of us. But if a little more of this genuine love for humanity can seep into our collective consciousness, we would all be better off for it. Mothers, especially.
THE ISSUE:
Mother’s Day.
WE SAY:
Honor all life as you would your mother.
WHAT DO YOU SAY?
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