Dear CLA Family
Mother’s Day is – of course – a day for celebration. None of us would be alive without our mothers! Literally, we celebrate LIFE when we celebrate our moms. Furthermore, “Honour your mother…” is the 5th commandment in the big 10 set by God; it can’t get more straightforward than that. But then, God took it up a level, by adding a blessing of long life on those who practice giving that honour (Exodus 20:12). When we honour the women who gave us life, we get – a longer life! Honouring others is important to God – so please take time this week to energetically, enthusiastically, exuberantly celebrate your mother.
But let’s also make space for the more complicated story experienced by many on Mother’s Day. Two thousand years ago, Mary, the mother of Jesus stood in the temple courtyard with Joseph to present newborn Jesus to God. Simeon, a devout man prophesied over Jesus in that moment, confirming to Mary who her son was. A special moment. But Simeon also prophesied over Mary saying: “…a sword will pierce your own soul too.” (Luke 2:35).
Mary didn’t want motherhood to entail pain, complication, or conflict – neither did I. She didn’t know what motherhood would entail – neither did I. Mary and I are different women, and I’m different from the women reading this post, we’ve all walked different journeys. But I want to suggest that there is a common and shared connection between us – in the activity of “mothering.” Mothering is a verb, an activity and not a state of being – we are all called to nurture and care for the young, the immature, and the vulnerable. And it is a calling, good work that is worthy of honour. It doesn’t always feel nice, or special, or even rewarding, but God knows this and still calls us to it and to long to do it (and sometimes that longing is unfulfilled and this is hard too).
So, what I want to say is if Mother’s Day feels hard, or banal, or painful, or complicated, or something you’d rather the whole country didn’t highlight with so much Instagram glitz, because it just heightens the intensity of these other emotions you’re trying to juggle – you’re probably feeling it honestly. And when we’re honest before God asking him to help us be faithful to this BIG job he’s given us to do, then he will respond by the power of the Holy Spirit to sustain us day after day.
The same commitment I pray over myself, I commend to you as you engage the task of mothering, comes from Romans 12:12: “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.” Let’s pray for each other this week – the world needs mothering.
Doing this good work together with you.
