MOTHERS DAY FROM THIS WOMAN’S PERSPECTIVE
As a daughter, I liked having a day to honor my mother. As a mom, I like having a day where my kids and husband honor me. Many feel that way and find Mothers Day delightful. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and having a day of celebration set aside to respect it is absolutely wonderful!
I am also aware of how Mothers Day affects the infertile, those who have lost their mothers, are estranged from their mothers and don’t have a mother they feel supports them, lost a child and so many other scenarios. For them this holiday can be extremely painful. While many people look forward to the day they can shower a specific, very important and special person with love and attention, as they should, others dread it.
A woman’s worth should not be measured by whether or not she has children. Many women without children have been inspiring leaders, mentors and surrogate mothers to young people in ways that helped transform them into mature adults. There are women who have sought adoption and been mothers in ways that biological mothers could not. Women serve others with faith, hope and love in their homes, communities, churches and the world with their time every day.
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NIV): Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Psalm 78:2-6 (The Message): I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths, stories we heard from our fathers, counsel we learned at our mother’s knee. We’re not keeping this to ourselves, we’re passing it along to the next generation – God’s fame and fortune, the marvelous things God has done. Teach the children so the next generation would know, and all the generations to come-Know the truth and tell the stories so the children can trust in God,
Proverbs 1:8b-9 (NLT): Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
On this Mother’s Day, pause in gratitude for the treasured women in your life, including yourself. Celebrate all those who mothered you, those who support you now and those whom you nurture. May it be a day you commit to being more compassionate and fierce in your love for others.