When we enter the world, the first people to welcome us are our mothers. Thus begins a relationship that will influence the child throughout the rest of life’s journey.

     “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever” is but one quote about maternal love and its guiding influence.

     Whether tending to a scraped knee or simply offering a shoulder upon which to cry, mothers are there to help pick up the pieces of life’s catastrophes and assure their children that all will be right with the world once again.

      The term “mother” may not always refer to the person who delivered a child into the world, as personal decisions, tragedies or other circumstances could strain or even break the maternal bond. Any female, be she an adoptive parent, an older sister, a grandmother or some other family member, friend or acquaintance, can take on the role of “mother” for those she cares for.

     Whatever the actual relationship, today is the day we set aside to honor our mothers.

     It is the day when physical tokens, in their myriad forms, are meant to speak volumes in an effort to illustrate the love we have for the ones we call mother. But those gifts pale in comparison to a sincere “I love you” and a heart-felt hug.

     Happy Mother’s Day!