Are You My Mother?

My dear friend Amanda wrote the following entry -- I am so thankful for her openness, vulnerability, honesty and good spelling -- characteristics I love in a woman! We'd both love to hear any thoughts you have after pondering her words. Happy Mother's Day, ladies!
 

Are You My Mother?

Amanda Bennett

Mother’s Day is not my favorite day of the year.  Not even top 100 days.  As a barren woman, Mother’s Day rubs in all the wrong places.

This week, I have been pondering this question - Why should we as Christians celebrate Mother’s Day?  Is it just a silly Hallmark holiday, or is there value in celebrating motherhood?  Don’t get me wrong, I understand the value of mothers, however, in this fallen world, all of our mothers are imperfect.

Growing up, I was not particularly close with my mother.  To say that our relationship was strained would be an understatement.  Today, through the power of Christ’s love and redemption, my mother is my inspiration and a dear friend.  I admire my mother not because she is perfect, but because she is a deeply flawed person who has been transformed by the love of Christ.

As I thought about my mother’s journey to the person she’s become, I’ve been reminded that God gave us mothers to point us to Him.  While our mothers have all failed to be perfect reflections of God in this world, His purpose is still there.  When we think of mothers, we think of the characteristics such as love, nurturing, patience, long-suffering, strength.  These are characteristics of God and ones that we should all be striving for as mothers or not.

I may never be a mother, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t act like one.  God designed woman to be trustworthy, loving, kind, wise and faithful.

Proverbs 31:10-12, 25-30: "An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life ... Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her, saying: 'Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all.' Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."

These verses describe what God wants for all women – not just ones who are mothers and wives on earth.  We can all be mothers one to another.  We may not be changing dirty diapers, but we can exhibit patience and grace to those around us.  Because our earthly mothers fall short, it’s up to the rest of us in the church in fill in the gaps.  Some of us have mothers who have been the epitome of motherhood.  Some have had mothers who have treated us cruelly or were not present at all.  Each of us desires to be truly mothered.  We can be the hands and feet of our true mother – God.  That’s reason enough for me to celebrate.

Amanda and her Mom