One rainy spring day as I was looking out of the kitchen window I saw a mother robin with her wings spread over her nest, protecting four young robins from the soaking wet weather. It only takes two weeks for robins to grow from hatchlings to the fledglings that jump out of the nest, but the watchful eye of the mother remains nearby until the youngsters can fly and fend for themselves.

You may have felt the power of love and grace enfolding or watching over you in times of need until you grew stronger and more confident in your own abilities of self-care. It may have been a person, or the sense of a spiritual presence that was greater than you knew yourself to be in life’s more difficult moments.

The natural power and protection of motherhood is always with us, whether it is expressed through our mothers, through friends, or through simple feelings that we are not alone. As we remember and honor the mothers we have known, let us remember and honor the love and grace that remain forever with us, because they dwell inside of us.

Memorial Day developed in the United States as a day to honor those who gave their lives in service to their country, or who served their county and are no longer with us in this life. We may also use it to remember the special people who gave so much to us in whatever way they could when they were alive.

Our celebrations of remembrance may include flags, flowers, special gatherings, cookouts, or quiet reflection. Whatever we do, let us remember to say, “Thank you for your service!” – not just to those who have passed on, but to those who touch our lives every day.