Are we not all mothers? Celebrating my Day

On this Mother's Day I wanted to share some quotes from a talk that Sheri Dew, (a lady from my church) gave (Ensign November 2001, Are we not all mothers?)

She talks about Eve and the fact that all of us are mothers.  I like this scripture I read in Genesis 3:20 today: "And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the the mother of all living."

These were some of my favorite parts, but here is the link to the whole talk.

"While we tend to equate motherhood solely with maternity, in the Lord’s language, the word mother has layers of meaning. Of all the words they could have chosen to define her role and her essence, both God the Father and Adam called Eve “the mother of all living”—and they did so before she ever bore a child. 


Like Eve, our motherhood began before we were born...righteous women were endowed premortally with the privilege of motherhood. Motherhood is more than bearing children, though it is certainly that. It is the essence of who we are as women. It defines our very identity, our divine stature and nature, and the unique traits our Father gave us....


For reasons known to the Lord, some women are required to wait to have children. This delay is not easy for any righteous woman. But the Lord’s timetable for each of us does not negate our nature. Some of us, then, must simply find other ways to mother. And all around us are those who need to be loved and led. 


Eve set the pattern. In addition to bearing children, she mothered all of mankind when she made the most courageous decision any woman has ever made and with Adam opened the way for us to progress. She set an example of womanhood for men to respect and women to follow, modeling the characteristics with which we as women have been endowed: heroic faith, a keen sensitivity to the Spirit, an abhorrence of evil, and complete selflessness. Like the Savior, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,” Eve, for the joy of helping initiate the human family, endured the Fall. She loved us enough to help lead us. 


As daughters of our Heavenly Father, and as daughters of Eve, we are all mothers and we have always been mothers."


So while I know this, I am still a bit apprehensive about going to church today.  Last night my hubby told me they would be passing out flower to the mothers, and my heart sank.  This has been a tradition in the past, but they seemed to be getting away from it, but I guess they changed their mind.  I got angry and frustrated.  I hate the awkwardness that comes when people get to me and are not sure if they should give me a flower or not.  And I really don't like it when people that know I don't have kids wish me a Happy Mother's Day.  (Because even though I just wrote about how we are all mothers, it can still be hard to remember that when you are surrounded by people wishing you a Happy Mother's day)  I will try to just say thank you and move on, but I would really rather they just say, "Hi, How are you, good to see you.  Hope you have a good day."  Or if they give me a flower say, "thinking of you today"  That would be nice,  just don't say Happy Mother's Day to me.  But I know it will happen, so today when I am told that I will say "thank you" and know that they are really telling me "Happy J Day".  Also I will try to remember a quote attributed to Brigham Young, "he who takes offense when no offense is intended is a fool , and he who takes offense when offense is intended is usually a fool".  


This morning when we woke up my sweet husband told me, "Happy J Day"  "Today we celebrate you.  This is your special day."  We made belgian waffles topped with strawberries and powdered sugar and had a nice morning.  He gave me a sweet card and helped me feel special and loved.  


I also wanted to thank the blogger at "my infertility woes" for her post in celebration of us today.  It was beautiful and reminded me that today is a day to celebrate each of us and the efforts we have made to bring about the desires of our hearts.  


Thinking of all of you today.  You are all so wonderful.