Spring is beautiful and so is the day set aside to honor our mothers. Traditionally my Mother’s Day starts off attending church services with my family.  Our pastor throughout the years has done an amazing job filling our hearts with what it means to honor our mothers.  Usually a gift is given in recognition of all the love and nurturing the mothers have given to their families.  I don’t know if Sergio notices the hand squeeze I give almost every year when the pastor talks about what an important role we play in our children’s lives.  My prayer is that he never takes that slight squeeze of his hand as a way to ask him, “hey are you listening to the pastor? He is talking about how amazing of am mother I am. Listen to how great I am!”   I without a doubt know that Sergio believes me to be an amazing mother because he is great with words of affirmation and always has been.  Not a week goes by that he dose not tell me what a great job I do in caring for our children.  The squeeze of his hand is one of comfort for him.  One to acknowledge the fact that mothers day may be painful for him.  To let him know that I have not forgotten the void in his heart.

Sergio lost his mother when he was 23.  We had just moved into our first home.  Boxes were piled in every room when we received the call.  Within minutes we were on the highway headed to the city that had brought him so much trauma.  Entering the hospital that he almost lost his life not once, but twice opened so many wounds.   In this hospital Sergio’s mother life would not be spared.  After watching her heart beat its last beat a part of Sergio left this earth with her.  He will forever have a void.  Sergio struggled for years talking about his mother and their relationship.  It was better to pretend the first couple of years, that because we lived almost three hours away, she just had not had the time to visit. I learned to not bring her death up unless he did. As years passed he has gotten better talking openly about her and her sudden death. Writing our book has made it more comfortable for Sergio to talk and  gives him the opportunity to reminisce.

This Mother’s Day I will squeeze his hand as always when it is time to honor our mother as a way to let him know that I will not forget his.  To let him know that I understand and appreciate the great effort he puts forth to make this a special day for me. I will hold his hand to show him that I will forever support and encourage him to talk openly or quietly to God about his feelings relating to the loss of his mother.  I will hold on to his hand for as long as he needs me to.

On Mother’s Day I would like you to embrace your families and make it a mission to enjoy the beautiful creation God has set before you.  Hold your mother close and thank her for all she has done and continues to do for you. Look at those precious gifts that have given you the name mother, but not without prayers for the motherless.  Pray for the ones that would love to have that opportunity to sit across from their mother and share something as simple as her smile and her voice.  Squeeze the hand of the ones that you know long for one more tender hug from their mother.  Hold on to their hand if that is needed.  Don’t let go until they do.                                                                                    As I tread through

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