A Celebration of Family, More Than Just Mother's Day
A famous proverb: "A mother understands what a child does not say.”
“Rejoice with your family in the beautiful land of life.” - Albert Einstein.
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.” - Rudyard Kipling
Mother’s Day is a time when we honor mothers. But for me, it has grown into something more. It has become a celebration of family itself, not just those who are related by blood, but those who are bound by love, history, and a deep sense of belonging.
This year, we celebrated Mother’s Day a day early. My daughters, my grandson, and a few very close friends joined me. One of the women who was with us is a lifelong friend of my daughter. She and her mother, who is my age, have been part of our lives for decades. Over time, they became more than friends. They became family. That’s how it is with people who stand by you year after year. They become woven into the fabric of your life.
At our table, there were mothers, daughters, grandsons, friends, and neighbors. We shared stories, laughter, and memories. We passed plates of food and felt the warmth that only closeness can bring. It reminded me how much we need each other, especially as we grow older. Love doesn't shrink with time. It grows, if we let it.
I worry that we’re losing this sense of family in the world today. So many people live apart, rush through life, and forget how essential these bonds are. Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are not just about cards or flowers. They are about remembering the people who made us who we are and those who walk beside us now, chosen or born.
As we sat at that table, I looked around and felt full. Full of gratitude. Full of love. Full of the kind of peace that comes only when we are together.
Let us never forget that family can take many forms. What matters most is the love we share and the time we take to show it.
My mother was a wonderful woman. Unfortunately after five years of sickness she died at age 49. I was 24. Two months before her death she summoned up the strength to attend my swearing in as a lawyer 90 miles from home. I looked up at her seated in the balcony, knowing she had weeks to live. I was overcome with love and admiration. She knew what was lying ahead. Thus, Mother’s Day always brings on a panoply of emotions for me, some happy and some very sad.
Although I grew up in a big family and still cherish my presence in that family, I also grew up knowing that it wasn't just genetics that connected people. There was always room at the kitchen table for one more (or more than one). My parents were inclusive and welcoming and the kids loved that. I learned later in life that family also includes the people you choose to make family. I am lucky to have grown up in a big family and to still think of as family many people who do not share my genes. I think that's the way to live a good life.