A Mother's Day Tribute

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 experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, 

or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk 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

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and 

surprising –we anticipate with you

This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. 

Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. 

We remember you.*

Happy Mother's Day to three beautifully inspirational women in my life: my wife, my mom, and my mother-in-law. Thank you for your deep, compassionate love and unwavering dedication to your family.


*This is not my original work, but was beautifully crafted by Amy Young at Messy Middle. It is a wonderful tribute to mothers and the less than perfect picture of real life found in the middle of God's grace. 

A Word for Mother's Day

It's Mother's Day and I am reminded again that I am a fortunate man. I am married to a loving, faithful wife and mother to our three children. My own mother persevered for many years to take care  of all of her children. I am also lucky enough to have a wonderful mother-in-law who has been part of my life for almost 23 years now. It's more than one man deserves and certainly a greater blessing than anything I have done to earn it. I wanted to pay homage to these three women today and wondered what to write that would encapsulate them all. It didn't take long for one word to come to mind that fit all three: brave.

In their own respective ways they have stared down cancer time & time again, overcome horrible circumstances, sacrificed emotion, money, and tears, fought through overwhelming adversity, endured the shadow of death, and found new life. Their bravery doesn't mean that they understand everything they endure or that situations don't sometimes overwhelm them. It simply reflects their passionate perseverance through adversity and their indomitable will that refuses to cave in when others would quit. Their courage is shown in the way that they continue to love and push ahead even when it isn't easy. These are three of the bravest women I know and I am honored to love them all.

Mama's Love

I have been tremendously blessed by the mothers in my life. There were several wonderful women who were 2nd mom's to me that I still care for very much. These women were mother's of my friends growing up & were willing to love on me and include me in their families-Ingrid Hinman, Georgina Fox, and Doris Godbey are still close to my heart.

There are four specific women who are more intimately intertwined in my life: my mother-in-law Nancy, my grandmother Margaret, my own mother Joyce, and my wife Dana.

My mother-in-law is an incredible woman. She is tough, smart, shrewd, generous, kind, protective, and loving. She has made me a part of their family from the time I first started dating her daughter. I respect her and appreciate her passion and wisdom more than she knows.

My grandmother has been gone from us for 15 years now, but I still have many great memories of her loving laugh and her continual kindness to us. Her marriage to my grandfather is a model that my wife & I strive to live up to. She was a persevering, kind-hearted example of loving family.

My mother is a kind-hearted & loving woman. She has battled adversity and poor choices, and has worked hard to improve for the sake of her family. She loves her children very much & continues to pray for each of us daily. I never doubt that she is proud of me and has my back. She would be here in an instant if I called and said I needed her. She is a model of perseverance and endurance and her sweet (and often crying) heart is a reminder of her love for us all.

My wife certainly doesn't count as my mother, but it has been a tremendous joy to parent our three gifts from God with her. She gives her best to them each day and understands how God has positioned her to love and teach them. She is an excellent mother striving to do her very best when it's not easy as a pastor's wife & stay at home mom.

Happy Mother's Day to all of you. Thanks for your sacrificial and giving love-it continues to make an impact that is greater than you know.

Mothers' Day

I have been blessed by the mothers in my life-by my biological mother as well as many others.

My own mother is an example of endurance, strength, compassion and love. She sacrificed so much for us as children-in many ways that I didn't even realize until I was older. She is always supportive and encouraging and is a true model of unconditional love.

My mother-in-law is a great woman. She loves her family so much and continues to make sacrifices for them. I have never felt like an outsider with her, but was warmly accepted into the family immediately. She has taught me so much in responsibility and giving.

My wife is an incredible mom. She loves our children with such passion and models what a Proverbs 31 woman is for our girls-things that they won't necessarily understand until they are grown. As a cancer survivor, she understands what a gift motherhood is and values it as a key part of who she is. I can't imagine a better mom for our children and watching her with them only makes me love her more.

There are so many other women that have cared for and influenced me over the years as well: Doris Godbey, Ingrid Hinman, Georgina Fox, Linda Marshall, Ellen Clontz, Patsy Graham and more than I can count.

One man shouldn't be so blessed to have such godly women throughout his life, but I am grateful for the love and influence of them all. Happy Mothers' Day to you all-thank you for who you are and what you mean to me.