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Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30 (ESV)

Mother’s Day brings many different thoughts to everyone.

I know some people who wish they could just skip this day on the calendar because it is too painful to enjoy.

Perhaps their mothers have passed away or they haven’t had the opportunity to experience motherhood. Many widows struggle because the one who celebrated her on Mother’s Day has passed away. The reasons are endless.

For me, I usually had high expectations. Don’t ask me why, but I think I believed that with many children came many gifts from said children! Yes, I know, it is a ridiculous idea. But I did it to myself every year. And social media makes it far, far worse. Have you experienced that?

Social media has made it so much worse for me. I question my own marriage or my children who aren’t living up to expectations.

I find myself spiraling down the self-pity staircase. My reality is nothing like social media or the movies on TV. My reality was that since Mother’s Day is always on a Sunday, we could never find a place to eat out after church so we ended up at fast food. No one brought me breakfast in bed because I left for church before others because I played flute in the orchestra. I never got the spa treatment or the shopping spree. And since I homeschooled some or all of the kids for many years, I didn’t even get the hand-made goodies from school! One year I got on the lawn tractor and mowed, grumbling the entire way around the large yard! That servant attitude was absolutely nowhere to be found.

So one year I decided ahead of the day that I would try something completely foreign to me. I needed a day that wasn’t full of disappointment and depression. Ready for my idea? It is truly revolutionary.

I decided to focus on others.

What a crazy concept, right?! I decided to focus on the mothers in my life and the ones who are like mothers to me. I invited them over for lunch. I planned ahead and even made my very first Waldorf salad! My teens helped me grill meat and corn on the cob. We even had an assortment of goodies for dessert. And I didn’t even get my Sunday afternoon nap and it was okay! Instead, I sat on the back porch talking about life and such with these great ladies.

The wisdom and experiences were so fun to share. Perspective is so important. And changing my perspective changed my entire week. This has been my favorite day now because I have removed the focus on myself and put it on someone else.

It is amazing what God can do with eyes that look outward instead of inward.

Such a simple thought so why is it so hard?

Because we are sinful humans who want to be treated like royalty. Because left to ourselves, we will choose ourselves over others. Because (fill in the blank).

I want to be someone who is remembered as one who served others. Who loved having others over. Maybe the house wasn’t the cleanest house but having a clean heart. Loving Jesús by loving others.

When the day wrapped up, the laundry still was waiting in the dryer and that was okay. The next morning, I may or may not have sent one kid off to school with damp jeans. His waddling to the bus was quite hysterical actually.

What perspective needs to be adjusted in your life? You will never regret serving or loving others as Jesus does.

Lord Jesus, thank You for reminding us we should love and serve others even when our hearts are hurting. Charm and beauty do not last but fearing You, Lord, does. Amen