Happy Mother's Day to those who don't want to think about Mother's Day

 

Happy Mother’s Day! So glad for you if that congratulatory statement brings you pride, joy, and happy memories. I am truly thankful that you can spend this weekend celebrating. Take some good time to think back on the blessing of being a mother. There is a little one or ones in your life who treasure you! You have people in your life who love you no matter how many wrinkles you have. No matter how many dimples in your thighs. No matter the level of education that you attained. No matter the job that you gave up. No matter the moments that you lost your patience. No matter the clothes you wear, the perfume you buy. No matter the level of clean that you keep the house. No matter the amount of money you make. No matter the nutritious food you make. You are valuable. You are loved. You have made a huge contribution to this world just by loving your family. You have been given A TASTE of unconditional love.

To those who are hiding in their home on this day of celebration because it brings too much pain,  to those who are grieving the loss of a child, to those who are hating this journey of motherhood, to those who desperately want to be called “mom”, to those struggling through postpartum depression, to those who are spending this Mother’s Day without their mom, to those who never had a mom, to those who wish they never had a mom, I also say… you are valuable! You are loved! You have and may yet make a huge contribution to this world just by sharing your pain. Someone once told me, God will never waste our tears. He hates our pain and sorrow just as much as we do! He wants to bring purpose to that pain. 

We have this beautiful assurance because of the resurrection of Jesus that pain and death is not the end of the story. For those who believe in the covering, justifying, sanctifying work of Jesus, you can be assured that this pain is not the end of the story. One day, you will see your child again (2 Sam 12:23). One day, your mourning will be turned into rejoicing (Ps 30:11). One day, you will have more children then those of a woman with a husband (Is 54).  One day, your sadness will  be turned into rejoicing(Ps 30:5).  One day, you will experience the tenderness of a mother (Is 66:12-13).  To the hurting and broken, you have been given the REALITY of unconditional love! You may not have the love of a child or a mother, but you have the love of a gracious and good God. How do we know that? He gave of His Son…His only child. What you so desperately miss, desperately crave…He gave freely. You get it don’t you? You, perhaps more than those who have children, get the treasure that was given up when losing a child. You have partnered in His pain.




So, for that pain…I say, Happy Mother’s Day. You know deeply the loss of a child, the loss of expectation, the loss of the ideal. That acquaints you with parenthood more than you may know. That equips you more to love deeply, just as a mother. May your pain produce faith, endurance and hope.

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