As Molly exited the sanctuary, her friend Cynthia waved her over. “Hey, girl, happy Mother’s Day.”

Molly smiled. “Thanks. Same to you.”

Cynthia gave Molly a quick hug. “I love Mother’s Day. Jared got me an enormous bouquet of roses, and we’re all going to Cupertino’s for brunch after church. Then he’s taking the kids to the movies while I get a manicure. I love being spoiled, don’t you?”

Molly’s smile faltered, but she quickly replaced it. “Of course.”

Cynthia continued. “Mother’s Day is so great. We get the recognition we deserve. Hopefully Jared has something planned for dinner, too. I’m going to milk this day for as much as I can.”

Molly bit her bottom lip to keep silent. “Sounds great. Well, I’d better go get the kids from Sunday School.”

Cynthia waved a hand. “Jared’s doing that.” Her eyes traveled the room. “Oh, there’s Connie. I have to go tell her about my plans for today. See you!” And with that, Cynthia disappeared into the throng of people.

Molly made her way to the Sunday school classrooms to pick up her kids, her mind spinning at Cynthia’s declaration. Sure, it would be nice to be spoiled, but since Rick died two years ago, that wouldn’t be happening. Mother’s Day was just another day when you were a single mom. She pushed back the discontent that rose up at Cynthia’s comments. Her kids meant the world to her.

As soon as Rosie and Finn spotted her, they lit up. “Mommy!” Molly’s heart filled. They thrust papers in her direction. “Happy Mother’s Day!”

Molly read the crayon-drawn cards. Rosie’s featured flowers and rainbows, and she’d printed “You’re the bestest mommy in the world.” Finn’s card had a picture of the three of them, along with “I love you mommy.”

Molly squeezed her eyes shut against the threatening tears. She bent down and both kids wrapped their arms around her. “I love the cards. Thank you.”

They exited the church into the warm sunshine. Inspiration struck. “What about a picnic in the park?”

Rosie and Finn danced in circles. “Yay!”

An hour later, armed with a basketful of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Molly sat on a blanket while Rosie climbed the slide and Finn busied himself in the field, probably looking for bugs. While she arranged the food, Finn approached with his hands behind his back.

Molly tensed, ready for the earthworm, frog, or whatever other “treasure” Finn had to share with her. “What do you have there, buddy?”

Finn’s wide grin split his face as he thrust a fistful of violets and dandelions toward her. “I picked these flowers for you, Mommy!”

Molly took the flowers, once again fighting tears. “They’re beautiful. Thank you.” She set them in the picnic basket and turned toward Finn. “Do you want to swing?”

Finn’s excited dash toward the playground was all the answer she needed. Soon Molly found herself swinging between her two children, legs pumping, the warm May sun on her face. Love and contentment filled her heart.

When they got home, Rosie flopped on the floor, pulling at her shoelaces. “Mommy, they’re stuck. Can you get my shoe off?”

Molly bent down and made quick work of the complicated knot.

“Thanks, Mommy!” Rosie threw her shoes on the floor next to Finn’s and ran to join him in the play room, where they dug into their supply of Lego. Five minutes later, Finn was at her side.

“Mommy, can you get these apart?” Finn held up a set of bricks which stubbornly clung together.

“Sure, honey.” Molly forced her thumbnail between the bricks and pried them apart. Finn ran back to his building.

That night, after tucking the children into bed, Molly returned to the kitchen to clean up dinner. Yes, she’d made it, but the kids had helped, as much as seven-year-olds could. Her eyes traveled the room. The handful of flowers sat prominently displayed in a tiny vase on the kitchen table, and the two beautiful cards decorated the fridge.

The flowers didn’t come from an expensive florist, but they were picked with love by her little boy. She didn’t go out to a fancy brunch, but a peanut butter and jelly sandwich eaten outside in beautiful weather with her kids topped that any day. She glanced down at her unpolished, functional fingernails. No, she hadn’t had a glamorous manicure, but these were the hands of a super mom who could handle stuck Lego and shoelaces with ease.

Cynthia was right. Mother’s Day was a good day.

Psalm 118:34

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.

God, thank You for the simple pleasure of spending time with those we love. We don’t need a special day to be commemorated for what we do. All we need is to be loved. Thank you for all the mothers who work tirelessly to make a good life for their children. And thank you for the simple blessing of having children in our lives. Whether they belong to us or to someone else, they always bring a smile. Thank you for giving us mothers, for as long or as short a time we are able to have them in our lives. Help us to be thankful for all you’ve given us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.