Mother’s Day should be a special time for all of us—even those who have never been mothers, or whose mothers are now gone. For one thing, it should be a time of thanksgiving as we remember our own mothers and thank God for them. Where would we be without them?

After all, what is Mother’s Day? It’s a time to honor our mothers, and celebrate God’s gift of motherhood (particularly when family life today is undergoing so much stress). Many of you reading this are mothers, and I hope this will be a time of joy for you, even in the midst of your hard work and numerous responsibilities. Others of you may be single mothers, and I know your way is even harder. But thank God that He is with you, and that He has given you the privilege of being a mother.

But Mother’s Day should also be a time of reflection, and of recommitment. If you are a mother of young children, remember that God has entrusted them to you, and they are a great responsibility—physically, morally, emotionally and spiritually.

I think of Mary, to whom God entrusted not only the physical birth of His Son, but a share in His emotional and spiritual growth. The Bible says, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). Thank God for the privilege He has given you as a mother, and recommit yourself to be a better mother, even to your older children.