Today is Mother’s Day. A beautiful day to honor our mothers and for those of us who are mothers to be honored.
Becoming a mother was the greatest joy of my life. I have no regrets.
The Lord used my children to draw me to Him and for that, I am eternally grateful.
However, each year Mother’s Day may be painful reminders for many women. The pain comes because not all women experience the idyllic family pictured on cards, magazines, and Facebook.
This is my third Mother’s Day with my son behind bars. I have adjusted to it now, as I realize his limitations due to the confinement.
Other women I know grieve because they dream of being moms and yet cannot be for one reason or another.
Others have experienced loss of loved ones – either their own mothers or children.
So yes, having a day that is set apart to celebrate mothers is a bittersweet day for many and absolutely painful for others.
But because I have experienced pain, I understand. However, here is how I learned to survive Mother’s Day.
Count my blessings.
That’s it. I start listing the things I’m thankful for in my life. I focus on what I do have and not on what I don’t have.
The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Let’s focus on the good things God has given to us.
I have my mother and am grateful to have her in my life though she lives a six hour drive away.
I have two wonderful sons. Though my oldest is incarcerated, I am grateful for the times he can call from prison, when I receive his handcrafted cards, and how we share with each other about our love for Christ. My youngest who is 16 years old still lives at home and I’m thankful for the close mother/son relationship we have.
There are many blessings I can list. But it is your turn. Let’s focus on what the Lord has blessed us with and not on what causes grief. What blessings do you have to count?
Additional reading on An Unexpected Journey:
Sing Hosanna – An Unexpected Journey
From Control Freak to Jesus Freak
© 2014 Shonda Savage
