the conclusion of a week of mama wisdom

This concludes a fabulous week of mother wisdom. I am so grateful for these seven and all that they shared. I know I had a lot of side conversations with various friends this week saying how good it was to hear their own maternal joys and struggles so validated.

Once this week got started, my mom suggested that I ask all of the husbands to these mama's a series of questions for Father's Day. Love that idea. Look for another week like this in June...

***

I had lunch with a friend this week who tried to conceive for over two years to discover they are infertile. She and her husband have now been trying to adopt for a year, but this process is slow. When we were talking I was reminded of a reading my dad used to read every Mother's Day at church. I know I have numerous pastor friends who read this, and I guess I am posting this so that hopefully a few of you might print it out and put it in your Mother's Day file for next year. In the midst of celebrating motherhood, I do believe it is also good to remember that we do live in a broken, fallen world where everything is not always as it should be.

Dad would read (and I've edited bits of this..)

Before I begin our sermon today, I'd like to acknowledge a few things. For some women, Mother's Day can be a day of great pain. I have heard that one in six couples today deals with infertility. Many of these couples have grieved in my office, and I grieve with them. There are others who have chosen not to be a mother, and this day might feel a bit exclusive. Some women never marry, not out of personal choice, and never have the opportunity to become a mother. Some of you have had husbands who have died or divorce has come before you were able to have children. Many of you mothers have suffered a miscarriage, grieving and wondering who that little life was going to be. Others of you may have had a mother who was not a nurturing-type mother and may regret having missed out on the affection and kindness you were supposed to receive. Many of you, because of death, are missing your mom today, sad that this day cannot be celebrated with her any longer. And a few of you have suffered the horror of having lost a child.

I want you to know that this day is indeed a day of celebration, and mothers are so worthy of celebration, but that these sorts celebratory days can also bring out a deep sorrow for others who have had a different life experience.

I always appreciated dad reading this sort of all-encompassing address. It felt right. It felt loving. And it also made those of us who were sitting with our own mom's a bit more grateful knowing that life definitely has twists and turns and nothing is to be taken for granted.

We're in Minnesota this weekend, celebrating baptisms and birthdays and it has been great. I'll post some pics tomorrow. Praise the Lord for this lovely weather! It feels so good to get vitamin d again!