Mother's Day twenty-ten

It's been a lovely day so far, the children are napping and I'm getting some "me" time. The boys made me breakfast in bed, (the bed that was given me last year for Mother's Day). And thank you children for not being sick on Mother's Day this year!! You remember a few years ago, when one threw up on me during my once-a-year-breakfast-in-bed-athon?

I took some time to read a passage this morning about Mothers.....about Jesus' Mother and how, with His very dying breath, He made sure his Mom was cared for. It touched me so much as I laid there in the sunshine this morning, HOT eggs and fresh fruit in front of me. This is what the verse says in John 19:26-27: "So Jesus, seeing His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing near her, said to His mother, 'Dear Woman, See, here is your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'See, here is your Mother'! And from that hour, the disciple took her into his own keeping, his own home." And do you want to know what it says just TWO VERSES LATER, (I could cry just thinking about it). He died.

The LAST thing on His mind was His Mom!

Oh, I fell in love with my Jesus all over again this morning.

So, after hugging the boys and thanking them for my breakfast and their rainbow scribbled papers, everyone got dressed and out the door to church. And wouldn't you know John 19:27 was the SAME scripture we studied this morning, it was beautiful. Pastor Mark spoke so eloquently about it and gave us word pictures that were piercing.

Did you know that if Jesus was that close to death, (seeing as he died just a bit later after seeing His Mom was taken care of), the agony it took for Him to even SPEAK is unbearable. Even in His final moments He wasn't caring about Himself.....it was NEVER about Him....NEVER.

Imagine with me, as we did this morning, just for a moment, being the Mother to Jesus. Seeing Him bleed out on a cross, struggling to hear those final words He's trying to get out about His Mom. I would think, "STOP WORRYING ABOUT ME, I'LL BE JUST FINE!!" And yet, the gracious Man that He was, even unto death, He served. If I were Mary and I heard those FINAL WORDS being turned toward me, toward my care, my provision, my comfort....I would never be the same again. It would forever change me, long after my son was gone. Jesus' words IMPACTED her forever.

We too are called to speak words of impact over others. And who are we to say, "it's too hard," "it's uncomfortable" or "I don't feel like it?" WHO ARE WE TO SAY THOSE THINGS???

We are not strung on a cross with the life being sucked from us.

Maybe a cross of pride perhaps.

We have an opportunity to make a lasting impact with our words.

For many, Mother's Day is salt on a open wound.....or a closed womb.

I am struck with a grief this Mother's Day, unlike previous years.

My thoughts have turned many, many times today toward my dear friends who long to have their name changed to "Mommy." The endless years of missed periods, that turn into expectant wonder, only to be annihilated again. How long O Lord will tears be their food?
Bless them today with strength for their journey.

And for others it is a day in which they would give just about anything to answer the phone
and be able to say, "oh, Hi Mom" all casual-like. A day where they wish they could hear their Mother's voice just.one.more.time. I cannot imagine the empty part of a heart that feels this day and night, having no one on earth to call "Mom."

Bless them today with strength for their journey.

The thoughts of what could have been....what SHOULD have been fill others minds today.
The depth of "everyday" pain is increased on days like these....when it's all about Motherhood.
My friend Kara who said hello and goodbye to her son Logan within the same day, said to me not too long ago, "I just have to remember that today, (Mother's Day) is just like every other day, I don't look at the clock everyday at 1:06pm and think 'my baby died at this time', but on this day it's a fresh reminder of all that took place and all that never was."
Bless them today with strength for their journey.

And those who have a valley between them and their Mom....with no bridge in site.
You can see each other from across the way, all the memories lie below you, and yet no answers are given, no direction to be had. Just you on one side. And your Mom on the other. With an unnatural distance between the two of you. Not the way "it was meant to be."
Bless them today with strength for their journey.

Days that are no longer yours. You have divorced yourself, signing the papers with your own blood and the pen of their umbilical cord. Sleepless nights, snugly mornings, weary days, rewarding moments, selfish thoughts, awe, unending hunger, overworked, under appreciated, loved to the core, needed every hour, laundry piles, joy unthinkable, times of insanity and times of deep gratitude, funny phrases, being a ref, broken hearts, love unconditional, letting go and holding on all at the same time, being called "Mom."
Bless them today with strength for their journey.

"These are the days
These are days you'll remember
Never before and never since, I promise
Will the whole world be warm as this
And as you feel it,
You'll know it's true
That you are blessed and lucky
It's true that you
Are touched by something
That will grow and bloom in you."

~10,000 Maniacs~