It's Mother's Day! You matter!

Today is Mother's Day, a bittersweet day for some of us.  So many of us have lost our mothers too soon, or have difficult relationships with them. Some have been abused, neglected or abandoned by the woman who was supposed to love us most, some of us never even knew her.  Some of us are mothers who've lost children, or had them taken from us. Some of us have longed to have a child.

Yes, today can be a tough day for some of us, but I am praying blessings over us all.  Every woman can make a difference in someone else's life, every one of us can show love, nurture, teach and support younger people and be like a mom to them.  And I hope that all of us have someone in our lives that we can look up to a depend on, whether or not she is the woman who gave birth to us.

I know I am very richly blessed with three amazing stepdaughters (who have all grown into wonderful young women, and one of whom is now a terrific mom in her own right), and two precious little boys who are becoming young men faster than I would like.  I am also blessed with a lot of God-given "like-a-mom" ladies in my life who fill a void that I spent a long time denying was there.  I am so thankful for all of them, and also for a husband who appreciates me and friends that take time to bless me and make me feel special when I'm having trouble remembering that I matter.

So I want to say something to every woman reading this right now - YOU MATTER.  Whether or not you have a relationship with your mother, you matter.  Whether or not you have children of your own, you matter.  Whether or not you have someone in your life to make you feel loved and appreciated and important, you matter.  You matter to God, and you matter to me.  I hope you'll reach out to others, make a difference in their lives, and let them know that they matter, too.

Any men who might be reading this - celebrate the ladies in your life.  Show them that you appreciate them and love them...because sometimes we forget.

Be blessed today, and take any opportunity you can find to bless others.  It will matter.