Mother’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world, usually in spring. Dates vary from country to country and this year’s Mother’s Day in the United States falls on May 11.

Americans will spend an average of $162.94 on mom this year, down from a survey high of $168.94 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $19.9 billion. But, I don’t want to write about brunch, bouquets, and bling.

I met up with mothers in many forms and discovered an array of motherly advice worth cursor movement.

First were foster mothers. Gina, Claudia, and Vicki all live in different towns yet network to provide the best care for children of the State. They provide respite care. I could write pages about their experiences, but will reduce it to a list of that which struck me most:

• Success is overcoming a challenge.
• Children are full of life.
• I can’t imagine life without children.
• We can make a permanent decision in a temporary situation.
• Consistency is the best medicine for children.
• Following through on the State rules and regulation is a small price to pay for the reward and satisfaction of improving a life.
• Don’t respond to a temporary action but have the faith to see a deeper answer.

I also met case workers and support staff for foster homes who also expressed the same motherly qualities that shone so attractively in the foster mothers. The mothering I found in the community far outdid the monetary statistics in impressiveness.

From Proverbs 31, ESV: “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed.”