I've Been Thinking

Mother’s day

A note on Mother’s day May, 10, 2020

Mother’s day feels so profoundly tender today… many Mother’s cannot meet with their children today (myself included), miss you Geoff, due to shelter in place or travel retrictions, some have lost their Mom’s to the pandemic or have lost children. So many differing circumstances. Yet, God’s everlasting love reaches us now, in this moment, in this day. His love for you deeper than the ocean, higher than any mountian. Today know you are loved and you are held.

The post below was written on Mother’s Day last year.

My story – 
I remember the days of love and insatiable longing. Longing for motherhood to be mine. To hold a tiny, wee babe, to croon love songs in their ears, to rock them, laugh with glee and celebrate each moment.
There were countless Mother’s Day Sundays filled with tears and yearning, wondering, when or if I would ever have that title, “Mom.”

Nieces and nephews

For the longest time, I lavished love upon my nephews and nieces, cuddling them, playing with them, hosting sleepovers with popcorn and movies, watching them grow. They were “my” children too, and my sister- and sisters-in-laws were gracious enough to indulge me. I mothered by proxy, if you will. I loved those children passionately and still do.

Having children

Years later, through adoption, Geoff came along. And then after a grievous divorce and eventual remarriage, Leanne was born. I recall someone saying to me after Leanne was born; are you glad you have one of “your own?” That was an awful moment. For motherhood grows in the heart; both of my children are gifts, both deeply cherished and profoundly loved! I felt no difference when each one was placed in my arms. Tucked with tenderness there, I only felt that it was right and good. These darlings, entrusted to me.

Complexities

And yet, mothering is so complex, and fraught. 

What a day – for those who have lost children – either through untimely and tragic deaths, or through a selfless act of surrendering that child so someone else could be a Mother. 

For those who suffer crushing pain and disillusionment; their Mothers, not what mothers are to be at all.

Mothers who we have lost, gone from this life to the next; and we miss them so much.

Broken or strained relationships between Mother and child, hurt that breathes with each breath. 

Heartache for dreams destroyed, Mother‘s hearts beating out of our bodies; longing for their children to be okay, whole once again.

Dear ones for whom the longing to have a child is an ache refusing to be healed. Oh, the ache.

For those who are judged because they have no desire to be a Mother.

And for Mothers who think they have utterly failed, and can’t seem to find the way.

You matter

In each of these scenarios; I want to say; you are seen, you matter, your pain is real, and it counts. You are not lesser than. You are of inestimable value. Your journey is precious, the road you travel, though precarious, you do not travel alone. Many of us have been, and are there, right now.

Loved

Ultimately, your value rests upon the One who loves you… tenderly, completely, and with eternal passion. This One, who will never leave, or forsake you, who gathers each tear that has fallen. Collects them in a bottle. Today, I want you know, wherever you are in this journey, you are infinitely precious to an Infinite God. Gather this comfort to yourself, wrap in it, a soft blanket, holding you.

Cling to this absolute, infallible truth:

The LORD appeared to us…, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jer. 31:3

Sink deep into this, let it take root, steady you:

… in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8: 37 – 39

So, today, dear ones, remember this: forever, and always – you are loved.

“Courage, dear heart.”

– C. S. Lewis

Courage.

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