Today, I share a column that was recently posted on Facebook by Michelle Sullivan of Malcolm, NE.
Michelle is my son-in-law’s sister, who is raising three children, ages 16, 14 and six.
Her husband died in an accident two years ago, and her mother died in a traffic accident 15 years ago.
I am proud to share this message. She is a wonderful person.
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“Sunday, May 11 was Mother’s Day — a day that honors one of the most beautiful, demanding, and sacred roles we’ll ever know. A day of gratitude for the women who give of themselves endlessly, often invisibly, and who pour love into places they didn’t even know existed.
But for some of us, it’s also a day of remembrance. A quiet ache for what’s no longer here. The loss of a mother, the absence of the one who once rooted for you louder than anyone else ever will. The empty space where your children’s grandmother should be. And for me, nearly my entire 15 years of motherhood have been spent without my mother by my side. Mothering without a mother — it’s a complex, bittersweet journey. There have been so many moments I longed for her wisdom, her hug, her voice telling me I’m doing just fine.
And yet, the loss doesn’t stop there. The father of my children, gone too. Once, there were mornings of breakfast in bed, of being told I was “killing it” as a mom (most of the time, at least!). Those moments are now memories, cherished but unreachable. Tomorrow doesn’t promise pampering or pauses — but it does promise presence. And for that, I am deeply thankful.
Because amid the hard, there is still beauty. There are the hand-drawn cards, the sweet gifts made with tiny hands, the laughter and love that echo through our home every single day.
Being a mother and stepmother has been the greatest honor of my life, and I thank God for choosing me to be theirs.
So maybe Mother’s Day is more than just celebration — it’s a reminder to love fiercely, to hug a little tighter, and to recognize that this day, this moment, is a gift. If you spent it with those you love, you already have more than enough. You have everything.
A mother’s love begins long before birth and doesn’t end with her last breath — it lives on in her children, in the way they love, laugh, and live. Children don’t need picture-perfect mothers; they need real ones — mothers who show up when it’s hard, who rise when life knocks them down, who laugh at their mistakes, and who love with a fire that never fades. Mothers who teach their children not just how to live, but how to live without them someday—strong, kind, curious, and full of purpose.
To my children: never doubt the power of love, resilience, grace, humility, hard work, and wonder. Don’t seek a life of ease — seek a life of meaning. Surround yourself with those who see your light and cheer it on. And never forget — you were, and always will be, my greatest joy.
Happy Mother’s Day to every kind of mama out there. Keep showing up. Keep shining. Keep rocking the world.
Our lives are full of love, thanks to incredible family, mentors, and friends who have helped carry us. This message isn’t meant to overlook that — it’s simply a reflection of the truths that shape our story.
Loss and love, side by side.”