Mother’s Day is always a little bittersweet for many of us. If we allowed it, this day could be downright depressing if we dwelt on only the negative and our own personal experiences. Many of us could share our personal stories of hardship and trauma associated with either losing a Mother to Cancer or to some other cause of death or having an absent mother. Or maybe you felt that your mother never showed you the love that you really needed and desired as a child. Maybe you were not the favored one in your family and you experienced the pain of feeling like the black sheep. You are not alone, there are many out there who have lived in these shoes far too long. It is time to pick out a new pair of shoes.
You may be one who had the best mother in the entire world who showed you love every day and who taught you to live out your dreams because she believed in you and still does. You may have had a God fearing grandmother or aunt or sister or girlfriend who taught you how to be the person you are today. If so, you are more than blessed.
Mothers have the hardest job in all of the universe. They have to know how to balance family and their love between all of their children and their many responsibilities. They also have to know how to raise their children as individuals to be who God created them to be. Each child is too unique to go by a cookie cutter mother method. Being a mother is a huge undertaking and although several women have been successful at doing this very thing, many have fallen short and are living in regret still today.
When I sat beside my own mother’s bed and watched her die of cancer at the age of 14, something happened to my heart and my spirit. My heart ached and ached and ached until a wall was built up around it to protect it. My spirit felt crushed and I felt all alone in this world. Life just didn’t seem fair not having a mother watch me graduate High School or to help me prepare for my wedding day or to be there when my first child was born. The hurt in my heart grew more each day and before I knew it I was faced with the question of how was I going to do this mother thing with my own children? I wasn’t feeling it at all. I loved them, but didn’t know how to be a mother they needed.
As a young mother I relied on my memory as my teaching tool. I had taken mental notes of what my own mother taught me along with a teacher in High School and a neighborhood lady that took me to Vacation Bible School one summer. I applied what I could remember the best I could. I knew that I wanted to be a good mother, but really needed more direction. It wasn’t until I connected and plugged into a smaller church body at the age of 26 that I truly learned from the other women how to be a mother.
These women were not perfect but they showed me love and by example taught me how to be a good mother. These women took the place of my natural mother and encouraged me to be who God created me to be and to teach my children the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They didn’t lecture me because of my past mistakes nor did they question me about anything, they just took me in and loved on me and my children.
As I look back, these were some of my finest and most special days as a mother. I was learning and training and teaching my children by their example to me.
Mark 3:34-35 Jesus responded, “Who do you think are my mother and brothers?” Looking around, taking in everyone seated around him, he said, “Right here, right in front of you—my mother and my brothers. Obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
When I surrendered my heart and life to Jesus and surrounded myself with His people, I began to understand and experience a mothers heart. God has placed certain women in my path, at different seasons in my life to help mature and nurture me in my own mothering skills. Without them knowing, these women have helped break down the walls of my heart that had been hurt and wounded.
I am still learning how to be a good mother and still being discipled by more seasoned women. This discipleship training has taught me the importance of having a relationship with my Father in Heaven first and also the power of prayer as a mother. I am not an authority on what a model mother looks like, ask my children they will tell you. But, I do know the importance of praying and seeking God for my children and family and for surrendering each of them to my Father in Heaven daily. I know full well that His plans will prevail for their lives, because I have prayed this for them and will continue praying this!
I am now seeing my grandchildren being raised up by my own children and I sit back and pray and thank God for allowing me to take part in their lives. How blessed am I to be able to be their mother and now their children’s grandmother.
My children are teaching their children the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to honor their parents and grandparents. How blessed am I to be able to witness such a testimony of Faith! I am reaping my prayers that I sowed for my own children for many many years and I am thanking my God for teaching me how to be a praying mother.
(2 Timothy 1:5 I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.)
It is never too late to forgive your own mother who is living or deceased and to start praying for God to renew your relationship. Forgiveness is the key to unlocking your heart and soul. You are loved by Your Father in Heaven, He wants you to receive all that He has for you!
I want to bless each of You with a Special Mothers Blessing today and to thank all of the beautiful women who have and are helping raise, nurture, inspire, encourage, spur on, love, train, teach and pray for their children and grandchildren!