I have a secret . . .
I normally skip church on Mother’s Day.
That may sound odd to several of you because you know of so many CME People. (CME People = people who only go to church on Christmas, Mother’s Day, and Easter.)
In 2020, I was delighted that I didn’t have to think twice about attending church on Mother’s Day because that wasn’t an option. Now that the world is opening back up, I expect Mother’s Day to be a day that the families fill up the church pews once again which is great. (So, get there early!) I’ve really enjoyed attending church in person again, so my skipping days may be done.
In the past, I normally attend Bedside Baptist with Sister Sheets and Pastor Pillow on Mother’s Day. The main reason is that the holiday sometimes feels like a glaring reminder of my singleness and how much I miss my immediate family whom I’m very close to. The focus on families, while beautiful, is not always the highlight of my week. Having kids has never been at the top of my must-have list, but the desire to have a spouse and create our own holiday memories is. My heart also cries out on behalf of women who desire children, have lost children, or maybe have not had the opportunity to have kids even though it was a passionate plea of their hearts.
Please know that by no means am I condoning my “avoid it versus face it” behavior. I believe we should willingly expose the tender pieces of our hearts to God. But if you fall into one of the aforementioned categories, I am here to tell you I see you.
Most importantly, God sees you.
He is not purposefully trying to deceive you or withhold anything from you just to be cruel. That is not His character. He’s a gentle, wise, and compassionate Father. He wastes nothing and there is a purpose for whatever stage He has you in life.
If you are struggling this Mother’s Day because you desire to start a family or experience familial ties in your own way, here are some Bible stories that can encourage you and strengthen your faith:
- Hannah (1 Samuel chapter 1): Hannah was barren and struggled year after year with not having a child because the Lord had closed her womb. She cried out to God and promised to dedicate her child back to Him. She gave birth to Samuel, a great prophet and judge, whom she dedicated back to the Lord and then had even more children.
- The Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4:8-37): She was a wealthy woman who provided provision for God’s anointed prophet, Elisha. Having a child was a hidden desire of her heart. God worked through Elisha to prophesy a promise to her and the following year, she gave birth to a boy. Years later, the son died but God still restored him back to her.
- Ruth (the whole book of Ruth): She was a widow who made a decision to follow God even though that meant leaving everything familiar and walking into an unknown future. She was an immigrant and had no idea what she would do in a foreign land. She married Boaz, a wealthy kinsman redeemer with integrity, and gave birth to a son who ended up in the lineage of Christ.
There are several other examples where God showed himself strong and mighty. I could go on and discuss Bathsheba who lost her first child but ended up giving birth to King Solomon, the wisest king ever. Or I could discuss Elizabeth who was barren and gave birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ. Each of these women faced delays and disappointments but what God had placed in them was greater than anything they could have ever imagined. Their testimonies still inspire millions of us to this day.
You may be thinking, “Yeah, but all these women eventually had kids. What if that’s not God’s plan for me?” I hear you. While I can’t promise you that marriage and motherhood are in your future, I can promise you that God, in all his sovereignty, sees you and is working on your behalf in the unseen. He has a plan for your life and what He has planned is tailored specifically for you. I hope you can surrender your own desires, submit to His will for your life and trust His plan over your own. Your faith and courage in tough times could inspire generations of women and families long after you have left this earth.
So, while I may not go to church this Mother’s Day- it won’t be because I doubt what God can do in my life. It also won’t be because I have lost hope in His goodness. I know He has great plans for me and He who promised is faithful. While I’m communing with Brother Blanket or Deaconess Duvet, I will also be praying for all those who are waiting for the Lord to move in this particular area of their lives.
Father, Mother’s Day is a joyous occasion, but it can also be a source of heartbreak or sadness for some. I pray that you comfort and mend the broken hearts today. Infuse lives with your joy and renew hope in the plans you have for your daughters. Let their desires align with your will for their lives and let them not grow weary in waiting. Bring forth the harvest, Lord. Connect parents and open wombs to your glory. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
