12:09..Happy Mother's Day

Okay, yeah, so that's weird...Mother's day was 4 days ago...but not in my case...today is My mother's day and I want to give a shout out.

Picture it: September 1968. The third daughter of a Baptist minister falls for a really cute navy guy, in uniform, about to go overseas. Maybe she's like me, maybe she feels deeply and seizes moments....and the next thing you know, she's pregnant, and he's gone.

Mom and Dad throw you out...casting sin stones that pellet your pride as you pick up what's left of your childhood and try not to slip on the tears of your innocence. Your aunt (unmarried and surely, unscrupulous) takes you in and sets up an appointment with a hospital that takes unwed mothers, who wish to give their children up for adoption.

What to do?

You ponder, cry, pray, wail, pound the walls....

And then what? It seems inevitable....The life within you deserves a chance...deserves more than what you can provide at this point in your life...there are so many loving couples, good parents...who would love to have a child.

Each and every day, for months you feel me growing, kicking...maybe you curse me, maybe you smile but cut it short, knowing I'm destined for another, never to be yours again.

Then, I'm here, May 14th, 1968. They never let you touch my face. Was it broken then? The bond?

You wrote the most beatiful letter to my parents...asking them to always let me know your'e sacrifice was out of love, not selfishness. They gave me that letter on the day I turned 21...which was Mother's day....you gave birth to me on Mother's day...when you were 21...my emotions weren't what I expected.

I've always felt the need to say this one thing...."Thank You". And I sense you've always wanted to hear one thing, "I forgive you"...there's no forgiveness necessary...thanks is what you deserve and even that is inadequate. Your strength, unselfishness, courage and love....is....maternal in the most holy way.

Today is the day you made the ultimate sacrifice for me, your child. Today is the day I think of you most, wondering if you think of me...and knowing you do. I get quiet on my birthday, and it's usually a day I want to spend alone...not in a melancholy way...but as a tribute to one of the most benevolent, strongest women I don't know...my birth mother. Happy Birthday Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

You closed your letter with a scripture: "To give birth is to be a mother, to feed a bird on a snowy day is to be a host to God".

My name is Robin...God knew where I was going...and thank you for getting me here.

I'd like to meet you...do you look like me? Do you have the same weird habits I do? (btw: you profile said you loved to read and wrote poetry and were above average in intelligence! Did I get to swim in the deep end of that gene pool?!!!!)

But this was intended to be a tribute to the courageous woman who gave me life...and so it is...her courage: astounding...her sacrifice: unimaginable,

Happy Birthday....You're in my heart and my blood and I love you...thank you.