This is the final day of Mother’s Day Month and I want to celebrate Motherhood. A prayer written by “Amy” was published on a blog several years ago about how mothers can be better honored. “Amy” offered a nice prayer called “Honoring the Continuum of Motherhood.” I have borrowed “Amy’s” title of her prayer, (albeit slightly modified) as the title of this month’s article. Enjoy!
“The Messy Middle of Amy”
Fast forward several years to Mother’s Day. A pastor asked all mothers to stand. On my immediate right, my mother stood and on my immediate left, a dear friend stood. I, a woman in her late 30s, sat. I don’t know how others saw me, but I felt dehumanized, gutted as a woman. Real women stood; empty shells sat. I do not normally feel this way. I do not like feeling this way. I want no woman to ever feel this way in church again. It is imperative to acknowledge the wide continuum of mothering to not alienate any woman present at your church on Mother’s Day. Mothers, we honor…
• Those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you.
• Those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you.
• Those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you.
• Those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you.
• Those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.
• Those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you.
• To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you.
• Those who have disappointment, heartache, and distance with your children – we sit with you.
• Those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you.
• Those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience.
• Those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst.
• Those who have aborted children – we remember them and you on this day.
• Those who are single mothering your own children and for you who hoped to be married by now – we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be.
• Those who step-parent – we walk with you on these complex paths.
• Those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you.
• Those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you.
• And those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising – we anticipate with you.
Beloved, while you may think Amy’s words are not perfect, it is nevertheless an interesting concept to honor mothers in all stages of the process. Mother’s Day comes only once a year. Make it special for your mother all year round. Show her you care by acknowledging her value in your life. And if you don’t have your Mom around, treat someone who is like a mother to you out for brunch or dinner on Mother’s Day.
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