Mother's Day is right around the corner, but that isn't good news for everyone.
While this holiday is a time to celebrate and honor our amazing moms, it can also be a tough day for many people for many reasons.
What if you've recently lost your mom or are worried about her health?
What if you have a terrible (or at least strained) relationship with your mom and don't want to pretend that she's your BFF for the day?
If you're struggling because your single or infertile, and your heart's desire is to become a wife or mom, a holiday celebrating what you want more than anything might be too much to bear.
My very worst Mother's Day
Is it sad to admit that I have 2 contenders for worst Mother's Day ever?
Even though it's a close race, the hardest one was just a week or two after my brand-new husband and I suffered our first miscarriage.
Unfortunately, so many women and couples know the pain we felt.
Whatever you're going through this Mother's Day, you're not alone.
Whether you're grieving the loss of a child or a mother, struggling with infertility or mourning a miscarriage, or feeling like you're not living up to society's expectations of what a "good" mother should be, please know that you are not alone in your pain.
You are loved, you are valued, and your story matters.
Maybe your Mother's Day is going to be a loving, joyous occasion. That's beautiful too!
As we celebrate the amazing women in our lives and the gift of motherhood, let's also take a moment to remember and pray for those in pain.
Here are some ideas of ways to create a compassionate environment at church for those who may be hurting this Mother's Day.
- Recognize those who hurt. It can go a long way just hearing a small word from the pulpit to make you know you're not alone.
- If you are offering presents to moms in your church, make sure to specify that these are for all moms (even the non-traditional types).
- Keep your eyes open for women who are single and lonely, widowed, away from home, recently divorced, etc. Nobody should spend this holiday alone if they don't want to.
- Offer spaces to talk. It can be great to pray for moms and thank God for the great relationships some of us have with our mothers. But it's just as important to let people share if they have strained parental relationships and to make sure they know that's okay.
It's especially important to make sure people in your church don't feel overlooked and forgotten.
This might also mean honoring the non-traditional mothers in your congregation -- the foster parents, adoptive parents, step-parents, and other adults who aren't raising bio children but are still fulfilling the most important role we call parenting.
Let's be the type of believers who support one another not just on Mother's Day, but every day.
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