Today at church, we had our typical Mothers Day Service. Our pastors wife, and 2 other women from the church congregation shared about the Proverbs 31 woman.  Here is my takeaway and my message about Mothers Day. The definition of a mother is not 'the one who does my laundry and cleans my dishes.' That is the definition of a cleaning person.  A mother loves. A mother encourages. A mother sacrifices.  A mother works hard and does the best she can to help you be the best you. A mother has hopes and dreams and desires. Many of them are for you but not all are for you. Some are for her and that is OK. A mother helps. A mother is brave. A mother is strong and a mother is selfless. A mother recognizes there are hard things, hurts and brokenness in this world and she does her best to soften that.  Mother is not just a noun. It is a verb. The act of mothering goes beyond being called "mom". Today I say Happy Mothers Day to all the women in this world who love, who advocate, who mentor, who foster. To all the women who have children, are missing children, are desiring children and are fostering children. To the women who have nursed the sick, stood up for the weak and oppressed, who have encouraged the brokenhearted, and who have fed the hungry. To the women who teach, encourage, pour into and love.... Happy Mothers Day to you.