Honoring the sad moms

It had almost been a year, and I was trying to figure out how to celebrate Mother's Day without my brother's help. My mom had lost one child, and I was who she had left. I knew it would be tough, but talk about how to say "Happy Mother's Day" to a sad mom. It wasn't easy.
I am horrible at empathy. I am quite vocal about such, so when I encounter a situation, most of my friends know what to expect. Silence mostly...un-awkward silence.
It has been 36 days since my grandmother died. It hasn't been easy; it has just been. And from past experiences, I knew it would be quite a hard mother's day for my mom. I walked into her room late last night, and she said, "Can't we just pretend that tomorrow is just another day?" It made it easier for me. I wasn't sure what to say or do for her on this day. In fact, when I saw her for lunch, I didn't even say happy mother's day. It wasn't that I didn't/don't want to acknowledge her importance in my life, but I was honoring her "just another day."
So how do you honor the sad moms? How do you step around the pain and wish a mom a "happy mother's day" when clearly they aren't happy? I don't think I have completely figured it all out. I still believe that no matter the emotional status of a mom she deserves to be honored. So...
Mom, I honor you. I admire, the closer I am to starting my own family, your tenacity for unconditional love. I am so grateful for you. Although you and I are quite different, I knew the kind of person I wanted to marry because I knew the kind of person you were. And that's what I wanted. I couldn't be more honored to be your daughter. I love you in every heart beat; I love you in every breathtaking moment; I love you in every blink... thank you. For you...thank you.

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