Mother, Mom, Mommy, Mama - regardless of what she’s called, a mother is a special soul. This weekend, we pay tribute to the women in our lives who have mothered us -- cared for us -- in some way shape or form. First, I want to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms and to those with a mother's heart out there, especially mine. I’ll be sharing a little about my dear mama later on in the post.
There’s something special that happens within a woman the day she becomes a mother. That something special doesn’t necessarily always accompany physically giving birth. For some mothers, that change occurs at the first stir of their heart towards loving a child, whether that child is present in that moment of not. For some mothers, that change comes after they have processed through their options during an unplanned pregnancy and chosen to parent. For some mothers, it’s selflessly choosing to give a precious gift to a waiting forever family. For some mothers, it happens when they hold their newborn for the first time or perhaps it’s at the first heartbeat during an ultrasound. For some mothers, it happens in an airport a world away as they embrace their toddler for the first time as their adoption journey comes to a close. And for some, it happens the moment they see a child in need -- even though their role is to only mother for a short season -- providing a mother’s love that is absent in the life of that child.
For countless women walking through seasons of singleness, infertility, loss, searching, waiting and praying, this Mother’s Day is filled with mixed emotions. For others, overwhelming joy flows from the very core of their being as they watch their littles and live out a weekend full of sticky kisses, messy pancakes, and handmade cards that melt their heart.
At the end of the day, my point is this: being a mother is simply so much more than giving birth to a child. Being a mother can mean longing for a child, loving a child, caring for a child, adopting a child, fostering a child, waiting on a child, or simply dreaming of the possibilities of a child. If you’re like me, you’re in a season of singleness (and loving being a puppy mother - isn't she cute?!), but practicing loving on all the littles around you until you have your own.
Regardless of the path God has you walking today, know that His plan is greater than ours, and more perfect than ours. He is the beginning and the end. He is and He always will be. He has walked this road before you and He is walking it with you.
If you’re single and happy, God loves you. If you’re single and longing for a husband and family, God loves you. If you’re battling infertility, God loves you. If you’re walking an adoption journey, God loves you. If you’re adjusting to your new forever child and working through the early stages of attachment, God loves you. If you’re a new foster mom or if you’ve fostered 50 children, God loves you. If you’re holding a newborn baby and are over the moon in love, God loves you. If you’re holding a newborn baby and battling postpartum depression, God loves you. If you’re a single mother struggling to make ends meet, God loves you. If you’re a stay-at-home mama giving every ounce of yourself to your family and you’re exhausted, God loves you. If you’re a working mom juggling a career and raising a family, God loves you. If you’re grieving the loss of a child, God loves you. If you’re grieving the loss of your mother, God loves you. We serve a mighty God and He sees you and loves you right where you are, in the midst of your perfectly organized life or your perfectly cluttered mess. Your situation and your circumstances in the past and present have not, will not and cannot define your Father’s love for you now and for all of eternity.
So to all the mothers out there, regardless of how or when that something special happened in your heart, you are a special soul. Your Father is the Creator of life. He is the author of life and He wants to lovingly craft your story -- and let’s face it -- He wants more for us than we can ever imagine. Trust His creative process and know that your story is one for the ages. After all, when we turn over the pen, the Author of all Creation is sure to do His thing and craft a story for us better than the story we would have crafted for ourselves. So to all the moms, and those with the heart of a mom, Happy Mother’s Day!
When it comes to moms, I know I’m biased, but y’all, I am blessed beyond measure. I’ve got the best mama in the world. I mean, that’s just my opinion, but she’s a pretty awesome lady. It’s a wonder I ever made it and she didn’t throw me out with the dishwater. When I was a baby, I screamed for the first year of my life because I had a severe case of the colic. When I was five, I cried every day she took me to school. I loathed it with every fiber of my being. Bless. At least I was good teenager, so she got all of her hard parenting out of the way before I turned 6. :) (I’m sorry and you’re welcome, Mama.)
In all seriousness, I am truly blessed because my mother is also my best friend. She is quick to listen, lend a helping hand and she always puts the needs of others before her own. Her sense of humor keeps me laughing and her words of Godly wisdom keep me grounded. She has been my rock, prayer warrior, taxi service, proofreader, counselor, and personal chef on occasion. She never ceases to amaze me with her selfless behavior and servant's heart. Growing up, I always knew she was amazing, but in the last several years, I have come to realize how incredibly blessed I am.
She was the one that wiped my tears. She was the one who cheered me on regardless of the venture. She was the one that taught me loving God first and loving people second come before anything else. She was the one that held my hand as I hopped around the ER on a broken foot. (Why on earth they didn’t bring a wheelchair I will never understand). She was the one that held my hair when I got food poisoning on my way home from China. (Y’all, that was a rough 36 hours. Seriously). She has picked me up, dusted me off and pushed me toward my goals. She has mended my broken heart -- not once, but twice. She has celebrated my successes and spoken truthfully about my failures -- or my “opportunities for growth.” She was the first one I was brave enough to tell about my dream for Crossing 413. And now that this thing is up and running, she is the one that makes my post office runs when I just can’t get there. She helps me tie bows and tape boxes. We jokingly say she’s the COO. These things are not what make her special, but they are an outward manifestation of who she is on the inside.
She is shy. She is kind. She is gentle. She is compassionate. She is strong. She is fierce. She is loving. She is selfless. She loves the Lord. Her beauty radiates from the inside out. She is everything a mother should be, and I’m blessed to call her mine. When people who really know her say that I remind them of her, no bigger compliment could have been paid.
Blessings,
