Heritage

Mother’s Day is Not About Me

May 12, 2017 / 3 Comments

As a preacher’s kid, it seems like the focus of Mother’s Day when I was growing up had to do with the Sunday morning service. I don’t remember specifically doing anything for my own mother, though I’m sure we did. Rather, my memories are of Dad having all the mothers assemble at the front of the sanctuary to be presented with some small gift. Then he would preach about the Proverbs 31 woman or another passage of scripture appropriate to the occasion.

With such a special service each spring, I came to understand how blessed mothers were. After all, there was not a Children’s Day. Dad has a sincere love and admiration for his wife (my mother), his own mother, and his mother-in-law. And he always included them as examples to look up when he talked about the sacredness of motherhood.

 

Later, as a young wife, the traditional Mother’s Day service took on a bittersweet note for me. I was happy to honor my own mother, but I longed to be a mother myself. Mother’s Day became a painful reminder of our childlessness for several years. When God brought our beautiful daughters into our home after seven years of marriage, motherhood was not something I took for granted.

For the past 24 years on Mother’s Day, I haven’t expected to be honored with gifts and pampering. Because you see, it’s not about me.

Motherhood is definitely not without its challenges. However, I’ve never thought of it as a job or a duty deserving of honor. Rather I consider it a privilege.

 

He maketh the barren woman to keep house,

and to be a joyful mother of children.

Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 113:9

On Mother’s Day each year I thank God for two women I’ve never met… the women who chose life for my precious children. It has truly been a joy to raise them. They make me proud every day!

I am also so very grateful for my own mother, who sets a perfect example of what a mother should be. Turns out, Daddy was onto something when he used her (and MawMaw and Grandmother) as an illustration in his Mother’s Day sermons.

I am blessed!

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