To the Person Who Hates Mother's Day

To the women who wish they had a child, thank you for treasuring the children of others, even when it doesn't feel the same.

To the women whose kids are rebellious, thank you for never giving up on them. I was one of the angry children, and my mother's patience and perseverance saved me.

To the people abandoned or never known by their moms, thank you for battling bravely to forgive. Thank you for adopting other mothers to help you. My mother is not a gift just to me -- she is yours to share.

To the people who lost their moms, thank you especially for celebrating my mother with me. Thank you for taking the time to remember your mom and reminding me that life is short and fragile. When I am in your place, I hope I can handle it with as much peace as you do.

To the moms whose children died, I admire you. You have come from one of the deepest pains imaginable to us as women. Thank you for loving your child for however long you knew them. You will never stop being a mother.

You live in silence about the battles you fight in your heart every day. And today, on Mother's Day, the stinging wound can be ripped open once again.

I can't thank you enough for the gracious way you've let us celebrate our moms and motherhood. Thank you for your patience when your own heart is hurting. It's an incredible example of love that you choose to celebrate with us.

Thank you for being the kind of women who keep going. Thank you for not giving permission to the pain.

This is not how your story ends.