Yesterday (May 4th) my kids and I honored that greatest of all holidays, Star Wars Day (as in “May the Fourth… be with you”) by watching The Force Awakens together. If you missed it, there’s always a second chance, today, on May 5th. For the nerdiest among us, it is known as the “Revenge of the Fifth” (A play on the title of the third episode of Star Wars called “The Revenge of the Sith”). It’s for those who don a villainous Star Wars costume shortly before realizing, as they venture out into public, that they’re the only people they know celebrating the fifth of May without the faintest of references to Mexico or its 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

So, at the risk of wounding the Star Wars allegiant masses and those honoring significant Mexican military victories, it turns out that there is something far more universal that ought to be celebrated and honored this week. No, it’s not the onset of the summer “blockbuster” movie season that begins with the release of the latest Captain America this Friday. It’s something far greater… far more important.

Your mom.

This Sunday we’ll celebrate, honor, and cherish mothers of all types. We’ll remember our own mom. We’ll pray that those who are about to become mothers have babies that sleep through the night.  We’ll pray for those moms whose kids NEVER sleep through the night. We’ll mourn with those who lost mothers this year and those who want to be moms and aren’t. We’ll express our gratitude for those who “mothered” us who weren’t technically our moms. We’ll be reminded of the role so many of us play as those same “mothers” for people who need it from us.

So, put on a sweater… Your mother is cold. Look nice. Buy something special — better yet, make something special and give it to your mom. After all, you know, she still has that macaroni necklace you made when you were 4. It’s in a drawer somewhere. Call her. Answer the phone when she calls. Wipe that smudge off your cheeks. Keep your elbows off the table. It’s Mother’s Day at Mariners, Mission Viejo. We’ll eat treats, take pictures, and make crafts. We’ll make moms feel special. Let’s celebrate together.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Jeff