Gearing Up for Mother's Day

For the first time in years, I'm going to spend Mother's Day with my mom.  We'll get dressed and head to her church, where I assume there will be some mention of the special day, like handing out flowers, or cards or somesuch. 

Mother's Day Sunday can be a tricky wicket for pastors, however.  We want to honor the mothers in our midst, but we don't want to offend women who aren't.  Whether by choice or circumstance, the second Sunday in May can be painful for non-moms.

I stumbled upon a delightful blog by Amy, messymiddle.com which addresses the conundrum.  Her words are prayer-ful, and worthy of a pastor's time.  And to Amy, who describes herself as in that messy middle, caught between Already and Not Yet, I give my thanks and solidarity!

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To 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.
To 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
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst
To those who have aborted children, we remember them and you on this day
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children, we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
To those who step-parent, we walk with you on these complex paths
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be, we grieve with you
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you

This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

To women everywhere, I pray for grace and much joy,
Julie