Mother's Day is a funny thing. It's similar to Valentine's Day and my birthday in that it seems to come with some expectations that I should be treated differently...I should be special on that day. If I'm really honest, it comes with an expectation that the day should be all about me. I should not have to lift a finger. I should be served all the day through. My husband has never really bought into this. He is not perfect of course, but he wants me to feel special and loved every day, and not just on those few days of the year. I have begun to really appreciate this concept now, but it did not sit well with me in the first years of our marriage. And that led to our first Mother's Day, 9 years ago...
That "first" Mother's Day, I was pregnant with our first son. I of course expected that my husband would be totally in tune to celebrating this Mother's Day as if I were the queen, with this baby who had taken over my body and begun to consume every part of what I did and what I thought about. But my husband was not as in tune. The details are a bit fuzzy, and thankfully we joke about it now, but basically what I remember is being sorely disappointed when I woke up and realized that Mother's Day was not on his radar that year at all. And then he was frustrated and upset that he "messed up," according to my standards. So he ran outside our house real quick and picked a lovely bouquet of weeds--I mean, wildflowers--from the abandoned land nearby. He brought in the bouquet, and I think even whipped up a homemade card real quick somehow, and gave them to me as a beautiful expression that he did honor me as a mother, and wanted me to feel special that day. But there I was, still dissapointed, because my idea of my first Mother's Day was not what I had hoped it would be.
So, fast forward 9 Mother's Days. There have been some wonderful memories, and my husband and kids always express their love in sweet ways. But there have also been some dissappointments, if I'm honest, because I've had expectations that really could never be met. Many times they were just scenarios played out in my mind and not even voiced.
My point is, this year I have gained a new perspective. This day is NOT really about me! Mother's Day is a wonderful day to honor and glorify God because he has given me the gift of being a mother. Because He knit these babies together in my womb. Because He purposed them for me and me for them. Because He continues to show me wonderful things about himself as I get the privilege of raising them and being with them day in and day out, even if that is sometimes really hard and exhausting. The Bible never says anything about Mother's Day or any other special holiday that is about anyone except God. The Bible does say, "Do nothing out of selfish conceit or gain," and "Honor others above yourself." I don't think that means we shouldn't get gifts and feel honored as moms on Mother's Day. Those things are great. I just think that the expectations might be where we go wrong. Putting my own self on a pedestal is where I go wrong!
So this year, I am praying that I can remember this new perspective and approach Mother's Day with a humble heart. I want to thank God for the gift of being a mom. I want to thank him for giving me wonderful mothers and grandmothers. I want to turn the focus off of me and onto resting in His provision, appreciating His good gifts. And then any honoring and showering with extra love that may occur can just be icing on the cake ;)
Thankful for these 5 (and baby 6) wild, messy, beautiful blessings who call me "mommy" every day.
