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The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

God designed women

Not just with our wombs, but with our hearts and how we use them to love the people around us.

On this Mother’s Day, I want to dedicate this post to three types of mothers:

1. the weary and cheery: those who are raising or caring for their kids right now by themselves without a husband
2. the matriarch: those whose kids have flown away and are facing widowhood without kids in the house, and
3. the lifegivers: those who I’d like to recognize their unique ways of offering motherhood to this world.

To the weary, but cheery:

Let your children bless you. Relax and embrace your kids as they embrace you.

My kids do breakfast in bed. It’s usually some kind of burnt toast, but over the years it’s getting better. Then we head out to an outdoor cafe after church. The best part? It’s their way of celebrating-not mine.

I know that sounds odd, but for me, I’d rather have handmade cards from their hearts than a list of things I ask them to get for me. This year, however, I have made one request. I have four boys and I’m longing for an Abbey Road photo of the boys. You know, the 1970 something Beatles album cover with the four Beatles walking across the street. My heart’s desire is a similar photo with my four teen boys. They’re willing, but as they say: “It takes time to do that mom.” So I’m fully expecting just an IOU!

To the Matriarch:

Since I’m still in the trenches of raising kids, I can sometimes think to myself, empty-nester – what a choice place to be as a widow! But who knows how I’ll feel when the last one leaves – thrilled to be able to begin something new? Happy my kids are doing well? Lost without a kid-centered purpose? Lonely in a house by myself? Having regrets of the ways I could have done things differently with them? Quiet all these thoughts, sister, as you just bask in this day of adoration for mothers. For no matter what the situation, you have done it! You have completed the portion of your purpose to actively raise your children and you are now to take refuge in the Lord.

I picture you sitting in your empty nest as a bird, calling out with a sweet song and waiting to hear the replies of love and recognition. May today give you that feeling as the Lord sings to you, like a bird answering you in your empty nest.

The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)

To the Lifegiver:

Perhaps you wanted more children, but when your husband died, the loss closed that desire. Perhaps you and your husband never had kids or couldn’t have kids. Either way, Mother’s Day may have a particularly painful tone to it.

A dear friend who could never have children called me the day she turned forty. “I’m realizing I’ll never have my own children,” she cried. She and her husband have struggled with multiple disabilities. Between all the medical complications, it was time to admit their womb would be closed forever.

She later called after getting into the Word and asking God about this and had this to share with me. In Matthew 20, Jesus tells us the parable about the workers in the field. The master hired some workers early in the day and some late in the day but paid them the same–valued them the same. Whether He gives one of the job of 10 kids, another the job of 1 kid or still another, no kids, He still values each of us as mothers and life-givers according to His plan.

God wired all of us for lifegiving.

You gave life to your marriage. Give a woman a rose, and she gives birth to a beautiful romance.

You gave life to your home. Give a woman a house, and she gives birth to warm decor and good cooking.

You give life to your friendships, your business or ministry that you run, or the environment at work that you influence. Call a woman for lunch and she gives birth to a life-long friendship that never dies.

Sisters, no matter what category you fall under, this day is bittersweet without your beloved.

So, let’s pray for each other on Mother’s Day.

Dear Father God, please love each and every one of these sisters who have to do Mother’s Day without the earthly husband to remind them of what life-givers they are. Please step in and remind them here and now, of their value and worth to You and Your kingdom. Amen.