I’ve Got More Mothers Than I Can Count. And You’re Probably One of Them.

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I’ve carried this picture in my wallet for over thirty years. It’s me and my mom—no doubt fresh from some summer shenanigans.

Not long after this photo was taken, I lost her to the same connective tissue disorder I now live with. I was eleven. She was thirty-seven.

Losing my mother at such a young age taught me to search for motherly love in unexpected places. And over time, I’ve learned something beautiful: mothers are everywhere.

A mother is born not just when they bring physical life into this world, but when they place someone else’s needs in front of their own. A mother is born when she brings comfort, when she teaches truth, and when she meets needs, from the most basic to the most frivolous. Motherly love isn’t bound by genetics and the truth is, I have more mothers than I can count.

And whether you realize it or not, you’re a mom, too.

How do I know? Because I know you’ve taken that courageous leap of faith, trusting God with your hard story and watching Him bring new life from it. That kind of labor? It’s motherhood.

Maybe you’ve labored through the death of a loved one and waited patiently as God slowly turned your grief into peace. Maybe you’ve carried the weight of a difficult diagnosis, then offered your strength to someone else in their own valley. Maybe you’ve nurtured a dream—one of those deep, God-sized dreams—and watched it come to life.

In every one of these spaces, you’ve mothered something into being.

If you had asked twelve-year-old me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would’ve said, “A mom. To as many kids as I can have… definitely at least four.” Today, I am the biological mother of one. And I used to carry around my perceived silent sting of that—of being an only-child mom when I always wanted more. But somewhere along the way, I realized something vital: opportunities to mother are all around us, whether you’ve carried a child in your womb or not.

I’m grateful for the women who understood that before I did. Their collective motherly love helped shape who I am today.

So look around. This world desperately needs an army of mothers—women willing to breathe new life into broken places. Women who will comfort. Teach. Provide. Women who will labor in love and watch God bring beauty from it.

Happy Mother’s Day, friend. I’m thankful for you.

When Mother’s Day Feels Heavy

If Mother’s Day feels more like a wound than a celebration—if you’re grieving a loss, aching for a child, sitting in strained relationships, or simply feeling unseen—you’re not alone. God sees every tear and honors every hidden act of love.

Take comfort in this promise from God:
“As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.”
—Isaiah 66:13

Whether you’re walking through heartache or holding joy with open hands, His love remains steady, strong, and close. Let His comfort be enough for today.

Need more encouragement? Explore more faith-filled reminders and stories of resilience over at TheRescuedLetters.com/seen, a curated collection of resources to help you rest in the truth of God’s love and presence in your life.