She Did the Best She Could, part 1

Mother’s Day is on my mind. Depending on your journey, it might be on your mind too, or the furthest thing from it. Holidays are a weird thing. Charles Dickens might have been thinking about holidays when he said, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

 If you have a healthy relationship with your mom and are not in a season of second-guessing yourself as a mom or longing to be a mom, then you are golden. It is all hypoallergenic puppies and butterflies. There is a little pressure to make sure you buy the card, find a gift, and schedule a time to honor your mom, but all in a fun and peppy mode, right? (Guys, for the few of you who read my blog – you’re welcome. Here is your heads up to make plans for your mom and/or the mother of your children. May 14th is coming fast.)

 Then there are some who have lost their moms, wish they lost their moms (just kidding, right?), or have prayed so long to be moms and are still waiting. There are more categories, too… including those who have lost a child. And what about the mom with a child struggling with deep and dangerous things?

 In a culture where we can swing the pendulum too far one way or the other, I don’t want to be a Debbie Downer and steal the joy and honor that should exist. We definitely need to honor moms. It is a hard job and relatively thankless for at least the first eighteen years. (Right?!)

 But I also want to encourage each of us in two ways, as we are a little ways out from Mother’s Day:

 1.     We are all children. No matter your chronological age or how long it has been since you could fit in the lap of a parent, or how much responsibility you have in the world, the tender, vulnerable places of your hearts are seen. He sees you and is for you.

 2.     There is someone around you that will approach Mother’s Day with emotions not reflected in the Mother’s Day section of the Hallmark aisle. Who is one person in your circle that you could prepare now to put a smile on their face?

 I am working on my message, “She Did the Best She Could.” I can’t wait to share it with you on May 14th for those who can make it to One City. Invite a friend that needs hope that day.