Welcome to May, the month of Mother’s Day. The dictionary defines Mother’s Day as a day of the year on which mothers are celebrated by their children. As my mother passed away last year, this will be the first Mother’s Day that I don’t find myself scrambling to figure out exactly what flower bouquet is best suited for her, what card perfectly communicates my thoughts and feelings or what restaurant I’ll have to call for brunch reservations. No, this year, I’ll visit her in my thoughts and my heart in a way that only a grieving daughter can.

But even though I no longer have my own mother to celebrate, I do have other women to honor and although they are not my mothers by birth, they are still just as important. They are the handful of other women whom I’ve had the pleasure of calling mom, mama, or mother-in-law at one point or another throughout my life. It is for them that I will raise a glass and express much love and gratitude on the second Sunday in May.

You see, these women have had profound impacts on me and at certain times, when I needed them most, they also became second mothers to me. Whether it was marathon phone calls talking about everything going on in my life or when I just simply needed advice, they were always there. Even during the greatest loss a child can experience, they have stepped up and stepped in to comfort, guide and love me in ways I simply cannot express. I’m pretty sure that when my mother passed, there was a part of her that knew I would not be left alone in the world as there were other mothers who, unbeknownst to any of us, would subconsciously step in to advise, mentor and take care of me as if I were one of their own.

I’m a firm believer that when one mother dies, there’s a universal, unspoken language between mothers that says “it’s okay, I’ve got them now”

When we are born, our mother’s face is the first one we see and one we never forget. My mother was the rock and foundation of my existence and the one who became my hero. She was the one constant in my life yet now that she is gone, I have been lucky enough to find pieces of her in others. Just as my mother showed me beauty, grace, compassion, encouragement and unconditional love, these women have also shown me that, in their own right, they too are just as beautiful, gracious, compassionate, encouraging and loving.

As Mother’s Day will now forever come with a heavy heart, I will also remember to express tremendous admiration for the other women who’ve taken me in, wrapped their arms around me and told me everything was going to be okay. If not for the mothering instincts that come so natural to them and their abilities to make me feel as if I’m one of theirs, I am pretty confident I wouldn’t have made it on my own.

Always Live inspiHERed,

Misti

The Finding HERself blog is written monthly by Misti Graham, inspHERation® Life Coach and is inspired by her personal life events, experiences and encounters.

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