A litany for Mothers by Amy L. Sullivan

To those who gave birth this year to their first child-- we celebrate with you.

To those who lost a child this year-- we mourn with you.

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains-- we appreciate you.

To those who have experiences loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions , or running away-- we mourn with you.

To those who have walked the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment-- we walk with you.

Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don't mean to make this harder than it is.

To those who are foster Moms, mentor moms, and spiritual Moms-- we need you.

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children-- we celebrate with you.

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children. -- we sit with you.

To those who lost their mothers this year-- we grieve with you.

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother-- we acknowledge your experience.

To those who lived through driving tests,medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood-- we are better for having you in our midst.

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year-- we grieve and rejoice with you.

To those who step-parent-- we walk with you on these complex paths.

To those who envisioned lavishing love on your grandchildren-- yet that dream is not meant to be, we grieve with you.

To those who placed children up for adoption-- we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart.

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising-- we anticipate with you.

This Mother's Dad, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst/
We remember you.