Mother’s Day couldn’t come at a more perfect time. Spring is finally here; the robins are chirping and lilac branches are just starting to bud. It’s a season of new life, so it seems only fitting that we choose now to celebrate and appreciate the mothers who gave us life and made us who we are today.
, commonly translated as “gratitude,” is the main theme of the day. We take a moment to express our appreciation for the years of love and hard work that our mothers have devoted to us. But Hakarat Hatov can mean something even deeper than simple gratitude. The Hebrew phrase literally means, “recognition of the good.” On this special day, we do not only articulate our thanks, we pause and recognize who our mothers are, in all their marvelous wholeness, and all that they bring to our family and those around us.
To love someone on the deepest level is to see them and know them. To see them for who they truly are, to make them feel known and cherished. Mothers are notorious for selflessly suspending their own needs as they care for their children, nurturing them from the time they are small until they are strong and wise enough to walk through the world on their own. So it is especially important and poignant on this day to in turn make sure that our mothers are seen and known, appreciated and cherished, in the same way they did for us for all those years as we were adults in the making.
Of course, family relationships are not always simple. Mother’s Day may also be a time to acknowledge the existence of these complexities and also recognize others who helped guide and shape one’s life. This can be as easy as writing down one’s favorite childhood memories in a beautiful In Safe Hands Notebook, or creating a framed photo or sketch of a place that is meaningful to Mom. Think about a country that she has always wanted to visit, and put together a themed gift with local fashion jewelry and crafts, travel photography, or a cookbook of local cuisine. Gestures like this show that she is seen and known, appreciated not only for what she gives, but for who she is.
All mothers would agree that it isn’t about the gift itself, beautiful as it may be. The joy of Mother’s Day, and really of motherhood itself, is in the irreplaceable joy of being loved by the people you care about the most. The time spent together, the little moments where you feel understood and cherished. The Hakarat Hatov for many years of giving and loving.
We wish you a wonderful Mother’s Day! We love knowing you and your families through the years as you grow and flourish, and we always appreciate being part of your family story.
