Thoughts on Mother's Day

By: William Spence
Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Mother’s Day has been celebrated once again to the joy and pleasure of most but to the pain and despair of others.  How is it that a “holiday” intended to elevate and celebrate the virtues of motherhood can be so hurtful to other women in our lives?

Gratefully we laud the virtues and sacrifices of our mothers.  They love unconditionally, support, encourage, listen, care, defend, teach, and the list goes on and on.  Thank you, Moms!

Mother’s Day can be equally dreadful for women that have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a child of any age.   Likewise, parents that have not been able to conceive or facing difficulty adopting a child struggle on days such as Mother’s Day.

No Tears in Heaven: 12 Stories of Hope through the Devastation of a Child's Death, complied by Andrew and Sara Meyers, (Carlisle Printing), 2017 shares the stories of families that have experienced the loss of a child and the challenges such a loss can present.  Having experienced the loss of their son, Timothy Andrew, Andrew and Sara share their struggles and pathways to regaining hope.  The Meyers have deep Lancaster County family ties.  Contained in their chapter is an original poem entitled A Bridge, by Mark Bucher, Sara’s father, expressing a grandfather’s reckoning with the untimely death of a child.

If you or someone you know has experienced the loss of a child recently or years ago, there is help available to heal the hurt.  There are resources on our website at or contact Pathways for Grief and Loss at to take the first steps toward healthful healing.

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