2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

To this end also we pray for you always,

that our God will count you 

worthy of your calling,

and fulfill every desire for goodness

and the work of faith with power,

so that the name of our Lord Jesus

will be glorified in you,

and you in Him,

according to the grace of our God

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 NASB

Reflecting, Remembering, Rejoicing

“What’s on your mind?” the Facebook status box asks. My internal response? Mothers’ Day. Mothers’ Day is on my mind. 

I find joy EVERY day in being a mom. Maybe it’s because my path to motherhood was so long, and bumpy, and curvy, and fraught with loss. (Do people still use the word “fraught?” I digress.) ☺ Even the moments when I feel like my head is going to explode – like yesterday if I heard, “Mommy, you don’t understand. Let me explain it to you. Mother’s Day is not all about mothers” ONCE MORE – even then the joy of being Mommy completely dominates! 

I LOVE being my girl’s mommy! Yet Mothers’ Day is my least favorite holiday. For me, for others in my family, and for many other people I know, Mothers’ Day accentuates loss. For example, I ONLY get to be my little girl’s mommy because the one who carried her for 9 months is not – and each Mothers’ Day I remember my daughter’s first mother’s loss. My grandmother died on Mothers’ Day 1986. In 2007, after years of infertility and several months of infertility treatments, I miscarried the only pregnancy we achieved - three days before Mothers’ Day (May 10th). Last year, just a few days after we had brought the baby home from the hospital, the newborn we had intended to adopt was reclaimed – two weeks before Mothers’ Day. And this year is not only the 8th anniversary of my miscarriage but also the 4th Mothers’ Day since my own mother’s death. 

Even so, I have much for which to be thankful. And I am so very thankful! I have much in which to rejoice. And I do rejoice! I am, I believe, more able to experience this joy – because I remember the pain. 

So on this, the day after Mothers’ Day, I reflect. I gratefully remember. And I rejoice.

Philippians 4:4-9 

 4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.