Originally published Saturday, 09 May 2015.
Yay – Mothers Day! And that means treat day for me! A sleep-in and new slippers! Yes it is the simple things in life! It would be fair though to say that Mothers Day has different connotations for each of us. For some it’s all about some time to sleep in, breakfast in bed and a day without attending to chores, (whilst of course appreciating the little darlings that have enabled this celebration!). For others it brings poignant remembering the mother who is no longer with us. It can also be a day that causes our hearts to ache as we long to embrace motherhood but have yet to be blessed with a child.
Motherhood itself if full of seasons – from being the expectant mother, the mother of a baby through to the school years and then the “empty nesters”. Each season brings its own challenges. Whether it is the broken nights being up feeding a new-born or nursing a sick one to the busy times taxiing to and from after school activities. Each season too brings its own blessings – the priceless first smile of the baby, the first steps of the toddler, conversations of older ones and then the joy of being a grandparent.
The one constant over all these seasons is grace. The one constant over all our responses to Mother’s day is grace. God’s grace. God gives us grace for the season that we are in. Grace to get up multiple times in the night. Grace to surrender our children to God. Grace to comfort hurting hearts for pregnancies that have not yet happened. Grace to give peace to hearts missing a mother. Grace.
So to the exhausted one, the reminiscing one, the working one, the at home one, and to the yet to be one - Happy Mother’s Day. May you find God’s grace for your journey. May you find His healing and hope and may you find His love for you this Mothers Day.
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you, and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
And to my own mum on Mothers Day – Happy Mothers day! Thanks for all have done and continue to do! For praying! For listening and encouraging, for loving my 3 little boys! For babysitting and for helping out in all the multitude of ways that you do!