Mother’s day is fast approaching, and many of us are looking to get our moms something special that says, “Hey mom, you rock.” I am so very blessed to have a mother to say I love you to.

My mother has always been right behind me, offering me support. She has become my best friend since I entered high school and knows virtually everything about me. I know I can go to her for anything. However, some do not share this blessing.

The truth is, many people on our campus do not have their mothers. They may not get to tell someone “Happy Mother’s Day.” But I bet you they will celebrate Mother’s Day in honor of some motherly figure. I started thinking, and wondered why we all can’t do the same, even if we have a mother in our lives.

I have had several motherly figures merge with me on my pathway to happiness and support me, give me advice and even some that I have viewed as a true “second mother.”

My old pastor saved me from self-destruction when she reminded me that I was a child of god, not matter what my sexual orientation was. She told me that God has a plan for me and to take my own life would be disrupting all the great things that God had in store for me.

My friend’s mentor and past youth director helped to guide her through her sister’s death, crying with her and holding her hand every step of the way. The wisdom she shared helped my best friend make it out of the darkest time in her life.

Mother’s don’t have to be there just in the bad times though.

My dad’s mom was there to celebrate with him daily through life, and when she died, another matriarch of his best friend’s family took him in to celebrate all of his accomplishments. His ‘second mom,’ Vivian, was there for his marriage to my mother, my birth, and was there to congratulate him on his career successes.

Another motherly figure was there to celebrate my acceptance into college. My student council sponsor, who wrote my letter of recommendation for SMU, was ecstatic to find out I would attend school here. She still gives me words of encouragement each time I walk into her office.

This Mother’s Day, I think we should all honor our real moms if we get the chance. They have done more for us than we’ll ever know. Furthermore, I think we should remember to honor those who act as motherly figures in our lives. All of us have those people who encourage us to make it through the hard times, and celebrate the good times with us as well. They deserve a little love, too.

Michael Graves is a first year religious studies and communications studies double major. He can be reached for comments or questions at [email protected].