With Mother’s Day approaching, I’ve been hearing a lot of commercials on TV and radio saying things like “Nothing says ‘I love you’ like diamonds,” or “Show her that you love her with a gift from (fill in the blank) Jewelers.” Or even “Tell her that you love her with a beautiful bouquet of (our) Flowers (or chocolates…or both).” How about this: Tell your Mother that you love her. Give her the gift of your appreciation for all she’s done for you, starting with giving you life. Let her know you love her for who she is.

Nothing says “I love you” like a sincere heart, filled with gratitude, and the gift of time, presence and self.

Which dovetails somehow into something that’s come up in my inbox a couple of times now, notices of a Mother’s Day Outreach to help women wounded by abortion, and help prevent others from suffering the loss of their child through lack of resources or awareness or compassionate care. Here’s what the message says:

Mother’s Day is coming up. Many mothers are at risk or already hurt by unwanted or coerced abortions, pregnancy-related violence, homicide (#1 killer of pregnant women) and post-abortion harm, heartbreak or maternal deaths in their family…

Join participants across the nation in this life-saving, tide-turning outreach. Extend compassion, hope, healing and educate, too, with research-based evidence of abortion’s harm and risk to both the unborn and mothers.

And here’s the essence of the outreach, “simple ways to share a new message, and new hope.” Another way to say ‘I love you.’

And early preparation for Father’s Day…