Happy Mothers Day

Yesterday the boys celebrated me being their mum but I feel more like it's a celebration of being a mum and having 3 amazing children to guide and nurture, train and admonish, and raise in the light of God's word. I feel blessed to be their mother.

They surprised me in the morning with a lovely card and a necklace and earring set and some perfume and lots of little kisses.

Mothers Day may bring a mixture of feelings for many women. Thankfulness and joy and yet sorrow and sadness. Some of us have mothers to rejoice in and some grieve for the mothers they have lost. Some of us have children to feel grateful for and some of us grieve for the children that we do not have or have lost. I myself mourn for 2 babies that only ever knew my womb for a short time and my heart still yearns to watch them grow, to love and cuddle them, to cherish them here on earth. But that is not what God planned for me. I have friends who have struggled with infertility, who are not yet married and would dearly love children and some who have walked the valleys of grief when having children die. I have friends who have distant relationships with their own mothers and some who have had mothers die. Mothers Day is not always full of rejoicing but often a time of remembrance. 

I remember there was one person in history who never had a mother...Eve, the mother of all. Eve often has a bad reputation, after all she did take and eat of the fruit of the tree that was forbidden to her. She gave in to temptation and listened to that voice that tempts all of us away from obedience to God. And she is the reason why women scream for epidurals, pethidine and gas and air (although that last one is pretty good stuff). Eve never had a mother. When banished from the Garden of Eden and bearing her own children she never had a mother to guide her and offer help. She never had someone to ask for advice when the kids had a temperature or were teething or just couldn't settle. She also had to bury her own son and not just that she had to bear the heartache of knowing that it was her first born son that had killed her precious boy. Oh what sorrow this mother must have felt.

So let us just remember those who we miss and those who grieve on Mothers Day as well as celebrating Mothers everywhere for all their genuine hard work.

"What is a Mother?"

A mother is someone to shelter and guide us,

to love us, whatever we do,

with a warm understanding and infinite patience,

and wonderful gentleness too.

How often a mother means swift reassurance

in soothing our small, childish fears,

how tenderly mothers watch over their children

and treasure them all through the years.

The hearth of a mother is full of forgiveness

for any mistake, big or small,

and generous always in helping her family

whose needs she has placed above all.

A mother can utter a word of compassion

and make all our cares fall away,

she can brighten a home with the sound of her laughter

and make life delightful and gay.

A mother possesses incredible wisdom

and wonderful insight and skill-

in each human heart is that one special corner

which only a mother can fill!

Author: Katherine Nelson Davis

Maybe you know someone who this poem describes and yet she does not have a child of her own...maybe you can let her know just how much she is loved too.

I had an extra reason this Mothers Day to feel blessed and that was in the form of a little ball of cuteness that is Mr Smiley. Mr Smiley turned 1 yesterday. One whole year ago I gave birth to a little boy who was to fill my life with even more joy. We had a lovely day celebrating with his grandparents as well. There was birthday cake, train sets, wrapping paper, backpacks, wrapping paper, wooden cars, wrapping paper, clothes, wrapping paper, bath toys and oh did i mention...wrapping paper. My little treasure won't remember his 1st birthday and really he wasn't interested in his new toys that his family so kindly bought for him, and yes he was more interested in the wrapping paper but how could we not celebrate when God has been good to us. Thank you Lord for this precious gift of our son from You. May You guide him in his life and may He grow to love You and serve You.