What is a mother?

This Mother's Day was difficult and frustrating for me.  After listening to people and reading Facebook posts, I have learned that many of my family and friends only few mothers as those who have children that they delivered.  These same people only accept children into their family if they are biological or maybe adopted.  Many people that I know do not realize that giving birth does not make you a mother.  There are so many women in this world that pop out children all the time but they have NO idea how to be a mother to those children.  Giving birth DOES NOT make you a mother.  Loving, showing Jesus, teaching, correcting, disciplining, holding, hugging, raising, comforting, meeting needs, providing for...these are all things that make you a mother.  Below is a poem written by a person that was adopted from foster care:

Some Mums and My Mum

Some mums have kids,
Just, one two or three
Mine has had hundreds
She's special you see
She's not my real mum
But with that I'm ok
Some mums can't hack it
And send their kids away

So I sure am lucky
Cos the mum I have now
She makes me feel safe
Though sometimes we row
Cos no mum is perfect
And we all have to learn
How best to raise kids
When it is our turn

Kids don't come with a guidebook
It's pretty much trial and error
But no kid should suffer
Anguish, torment and terror
Thank God for those willing
To share family and home
With kids less fortunate
Thro' no fault of their own

We know there are times
When tempers will fray
But that's kids and parents
At the end of the day
And my mum is special
She guides me her best
I know truly I am loved
Whatever life's test

Pauline Oliver

There are so many people that would not be where they are today, if it were not for the love, support, and care from a foster or adoptive mother.  The next time you eat at or pass by a Wendy's you can thank a foster/adoptive mother because without one who knows where Dave Thomas would have been.  Next year, I am praying that people will remember that just because a woman does not give birth, it does not mean she is not a mother and just because a child is not biological or adopted it does not mean they should not be included/accepted in your family.  Thank you God for calling me to do this very difficult but very rewarding thing called motherhood to a wonderful, beautiful, funny, and sweet little girl.