It is in the nature of most mothers to put their children before themselves. 

Although motherhood means different things to different people, one word rings true... sacrifice. Whether it is giving up a career, the freedom to socialise anywhere anytime, a pre baby body or even giving up a child, motherhood goes hand in hand with a level of surrender that is understood by mothers all over the world and admired by even more.

That old saying 'everyone has a mother' is used as a way of humanising someone. You can imagine that through the eyes of a mother anyone can be beautiful, unique and even loved.

Everyday millions of mothers do whatever they can for the sake of their children. Most of the mothers in our world live in poverty. The recent State of the World's Mothers 2011 report explores the health, education and economic conditions for women and children in 164 countries. It states that 'each day 22,000 children still perish from mostly preventable or treatable causes'.  Can you imagine what it would be like to be just one of those 22,000 mothers?

Mothers can help us see our true potential. They can remind us of ourselves and help us face uncertainty if not by their loving presence then by the values they instil in us as we grow into adults. As one son stated 'My mother said to me if you are a soldier, you will become a general. If you are a monk, you will become the Pope. Instead I was a painter, and became Picasso'.

Wishing all the mothers everywhere, a happy day.