I say it all the time: I am a word-nerd and I love it.
I was not at all surprised to look up the etymological meaning of mother and find that it is ‘breast-feeder’ (the English word mother and Latin mater and many similar maternal words contain the worldwide etymon ma ‘breast’ + ter an Indo-European agent suffix).
Breastfeeding my baby girls were the most amazing bonding time.
Even though I felt connected to my girls since they were in my belly, breastfeeding is when I truly felt like a mom.
Some willing mothers are not able to breastfeed or have adopted their children. The secret lies not in the breast milk, but in the action. Breastfeeding is an action of love.
Now, before we move on, let me just say that sometimes choosing not to breastfeed is also an act of love. But let’s get back to the message.
The title mother isn’t a holy term on its own. Any woman can give birth to a child, but it takes LOVE IN ACTION to be a mother.
I looked up motherhood in the Collins English Dictionary. It is:
1. the state of being a mother
2. the qualities characteristic of a mother
A true mother exercises motherhood by practicing and progressing in the qualities of a LOVING mother.
Are YOU a LOVING Mom? When in doubt, read the instructions:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. ~ The Bible (AKA a loving mother’s instruction manual)
Love is Perfect…while we are not. It takes the inner strength of a faithful woman to wake up with the desire to exercise motherhood, to be consistent, and to put it in action throughout the day (and night)… every day.
“Her children arise and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’”
I love that there is a day dedicated to celebrating my motherhood. I have been anticipating the day with enthusiasm: My daughters spent their money and their time making sure I felt special…
“Mami, you’re going to love your surprises”
… and I do.
Happy Mother’s Day to all LOVING mothers. Those of you that wear your title as a tribute to the work you do within yourselves, for your children, your spouses, your community, and the Earth. I call you BLESSED and PRAISE you all.
Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results and help others do the same. Dr. Elayna Fernández is a single mom of 4, an award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 5x TEDx speaker. She has spoken at the United Nations, received the President’s Volunteer Lifetime Achievement Award, and was selected as one of the Top Impactful Leaders and a Woman of Influence by SUCCESS Magazine. Connect with Elayna at thepositivemom.com/ef and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
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