Mother’s Day is a bittersweet time of year for me. Is it for you, too?
I struggle with a mixed bag of emotions; Full of grief and celebration. I have said goodbye to two wonderful moms in my life. The first was to my biological mom as she lost the battle with cancer at the age of 46. The second was to my adopted mom (my mother-in-law) that lost the battle to congestive heart failure at the age of 58. I grieve that I cannot call them on the phone, sit with them on the porch, laugh at silly jokes, or contemplate life together.
While I grieve their absence, I celebrate that they are in a better place with the Lord. I celebrate that there were times that I could cry on their shoulder, laugh until we wet ourselves, talk about different paths of life, and dream together.
I celebrate that I not only had a mom that wanted me but also loved me.
I celebrate having a second mom that took me in and loved me as her own.
Celebrating life is far better than grieving it, but many of you have no celebration within to offer.
Maybe you don’t know your mom or have a strained relationship with her.
Sister, we can choose to grieve what could, should, or would have been, or we can choose to celebrate what is true.
- Celebrate the life we were given by God and the life He chose to use to bring us into this world.
For You formed my inward parts;
You wove me in my mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13)
- Celebrate the Moms God has given us:
MOM=My Other Mothers
Let me explain.
While I was blessed with two amazing mothers, God also gave me the gift of many other mothers.
My childhood girlfriends shared their moms with me.
A close neighbor that adopted my mom, as if she were hers, also loved me like a mom.
Women within the church have taken me in as a daughter.
My Step Mom of 28 years and Mother-In-Law of five years loved me as their own.
The many other mothers God has placed in my life have loved me with open arms, counseled me with great wisdom, taken me shopping, sat up late talking, and fed this hungry girl many times.
Who in your life has mentored you, spent time with you, shopped with you, cried with you, or prayed with you?
Celebrate them on MOM’s day (My Other Mothers’ Day) and let them know how grateful you are for them.
We will grieve our losses, but let’s honor God by celebrating the women He has brought into our lives. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. (Psalm 118:24)
