I am sad for friend's whose grief is still raw at the loss of their gorgeous bubbas, I'm sad for friends who have lost older children and for those who have lost their mothers and for those who have damaged or no realatoinship with their mothers. I miss my Gran terribly and today makes that sadness more real as well.. I am sad that my mother in law is suffering Alzheimers and does not recognise her own sons and family any longer.
I am so thankful for my Mum who loves all her girls immensely and cares for all of us so deeply! I'm looking forward to seeing her in a couple of weeks!
I'm touched by messages from my beautiful niece-in-law and a lovely friend from church.
I message some dear friends and have a few chats.
I write my annual Facebook post for Mother's day (Hope it's helpful for others as I'm not sure if it is helpful for me or not.. it does renew the grief.. make me acknowledge the grief I suppose)
"Today I am thankful for "mothers" everywhere - for all those who care for and encourage and help us grow, forgive us, support us in hard times, challenge us, share the word with us, gave birth to us, nurtured us, prayed for us... the list goes on! I am so thankful to God for those he has given us to love and be loved by!
KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOVED!!
For those whom today is a time of grief instead of celebration (whatever the reason ... and there are so very many), may you be strengthened and comforted! xxx"
I feel upheld by my father in heaven and by the prayers of friends and family.
Of course I want mother's to be celebrated - they are amazing and give up so much for their children but when someone messaged me to to say he wanted to hand out flowers for the mother's at our church gathering and would I be happy for him to to buy some and get the welcomers to do it at the welcome desk (I co-ordinate welcoming) I had to ring him and say that I thought it should not be done at the welcome desk if he really wants to give flowers to do it privately. I suggested a flower for all women... it was a bad phone line and he was at the shops so noisy and distracted. It was a painful and awkward conversation.
.... I hang up and sob my heart out!
He messages to apologise if he hurt me.
As my wonderful husband comforts me I apologise for being stupid. He says I'm not.
In the past I have missed church on mother's day - I just couldn't face it! I really don't want to go now but force myself to say we need to go!
There are no flowers at the door... there is an announcement at the front thanking and acknowledging mothers and a acknowledgement that it's a hard day for some. After the service he takes flowers around to the actual mothers. I know other people noticed and thought it was strange. There are many single women at church who "mother" other women and youth!! How do we acknowledge them on such days?
I really like Amy's Wide Spectrum of Mothering and her blog post on Mother's Day here something to help acknowledge the different people in our midst.
Please LORD, help me to give me grace!!
