In Australia, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Happy Mother’s Day! My Mother’s Day wishes are for all of you, whether or not you are a mother, and whether or not you are happy about another Mother’s Day. Especially if you are not happy about it.
Perhaps you yearn to be a mother, but that doesn’t seem possible, and you are grieving about that. Perhaps you were a mother, but your children have moved away, become too busy, and you no longer have contact. Perhaps they have cut off all contact. Perhaps you were unable to care for your children, and you gave them up for adoption. Perhaps you were not in a fit state, and your children were taken from you. Perhaps you have an imperfect child, due to an accident or a birth defect. Perhaps you feel guilty, or ashamed of what you might have done, or not done, for your child. Perhaps you are envious of others who seem to have perfect children. Perhaps your child was taken from you by death.
I’m truly sorry for you.
Perhaps your children are wearing you out. Maybe they are not sleeping at night, and you are worn out trying to stop the crying. Perhaps you feel rejected by your children. You have given them so much, and now that they are older, they just want to ignore you, or use you when it suits them. Perhaps your children are addicted to something, and you just can’t seem to help. They don’t want help, and when you do try to help, they just blame you for their problems.
I’m truly sorry for you.
What about your own Mother?
Will you be contacting your mother for Mother’s Day? What was your childhood like? Was your mother too busy for you? Was she willing and able to care for you, even when you were sick or dirty, or badly behaved? Was your mother able to show you love in the way that you needed it? Did your mother say, “I love you,” or did she show her love for you by the things she did? Is your mother still alive? How do you remember her?
Adopted Children
What about those of you who were raised in a foster or adoptive family? How did you feel when you found out you were adopted? What are your thoughts about your birth mother? Have you ever wanted to know why she gave you up? Have you asked your adoptive parents why they chose you?
The Perfect Parent
Last September, in my blog, happy-fathers-day-2024, I wrote that historically Mother’s Day was celebrated years before Father’s Day became a thing. It seems we are more inclined to thank and honour our mothers, rather than our fathers.
God describes Himself as our heavenly Father. He says over and over that He loves us. He chose us. He chose you!
For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight.
Ephesians 1:4 (NIV)
Wow! God chose me. God chose you! He wants us to love Him as our perfect, heavenly Father. He uses the word, “Abba,” which is like “Daddy.” He wants us to love and trust Him to supply all our needs, just as a small child loves and trusts his Daddy.
God chose you before the creation of the world! Not because He thought you were so beautiful, or clever, or good. Just because He loved you.
In fact, we were God’s enemies:
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:10 (NIV)
Jesus died for me, His enemy! So, I could be reconciled to God, the perfect parent.
Parenting is Hard
If you are a parent, you know it’s not an easy job. You love your child, but you never knew love could hurt so much. I think agape love is only learned as a parent. It’s the self-sacrificing love that willingly gives up your own comforts and rights and needs, in order to care for a screaming, unthankful, demanding, messy, totally dependent child. That’s love.
That’s the love that God has for us. He gave up His only son, Jesus, to die for us, His enemies. Jesus gave up EVERYTHING, for us demanding, messy, lazy, self-entitled, proud, self-indulgent, spoiled brats, who often ignore Him, or want Him out of our lives. Maybe we even deny that He exists!
Comfort for Parents
If you feel ashamed, or guilty for being a bad parent, or even a less-than-perfect parent, God has something to say to you:
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:1-2
Comfort for Children
As a child of imperfect people, there are probably times when your parents let you down – when they didn’t, or couldn’t, meet your needs or your expectations. But even if your own mother lacked compassion, God won’t ever forget you.
Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?
Isaiah 49:15 (NIV)
Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Unless you were a perfect child, you probably know that you were a disappointment to your parents at times. Maybe you feel like you were never good enough for your parents.
No matter what you think of your imperfections, God says you are wonderfully made:
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:13-14
So, this Mother’s Day, take comfort from our perfect parent:
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young.
Isaiah 40:11 (NIV)
As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.
Isaiah 66:13 (NIV)
God is love.
1 John 4:8b
Love [God] is patient, love is kind… It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Happy Mother’s Day!
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you that you are the perfect parent. Please forgive me for being an ungrateful child.
Thank you for loving me, always. Thank you Jesus, that you loved me so much that you gave up everything for me. Thank you that because of Jesus, I am forgiven.
Thank you for my parents. Help me to forgive them, as you have forgiven me.
Please forgive me for fighting with other people. Help me to see them as your children too. Help me to forgive them.
Remind me that you want us to live in your peace. Amen.
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