Today is Mothers Day.
My family and friends have shared their Mother's Day celebrations in Australia and I am in humble awe at the rich heritage of strong women I descend from.
I am eternally grateful for the blessing of my sweet Mother in my life. For she has been an unshakable tower of strength. She continues to set an amazing example of faithful endurance.Her Mother's heart has embraced every soul she has ever met. She is kindness personified. I am grateful to have her in my life. I remember at about 12 years old I finally got up the courage to ask her when she would tell a child they were adopted. I have no idea where that notion came by but I clearly remember the anxiety with which I proposed that question. She was ironing in the laundry room.
Her answer was, "Well I guess when I thought they could handle it."
I came away devastated, not only did the question of my adoption not have an answer...apparently I was not old enough to handle the truth!
As I continued to grow up it became very evident physically that I was indeed not adopted. She may be short where I am tall...but those eyes! Well needless to say those eyes have been passed to two more generations, and with Danielle's recent bombshell surprise of her pregnancy, maybe we'll have another child with Grand-Nanny's blue eyes too!
And also my maternal Grandmother, Nanny, and my other-mother-Aunty Yvonne.
These three women of faith and strength chartered new waters in our family line, accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ. As I have grown up following their gospel example I have seen their deep well of faith, strength under incredible pain and heartache, form them into beautiful daughters of God. Their unwavering faith has strengthened me in my times of trial. Their love has lifted me out of the depths of despair. Their laughter has brightened my days.
A Mother is one who loves without restraint. The very act of mothering is often a hallmark of one who cares more for others, than in that moment, she cares for herself. It doesn't always mean a biological bridge, shared similar cells. Mothering is one who nurtures another, one who loves another, one who serves another.
I have often seen the heartache, the nearly all-consuming desire to be a Mother. And often the role of Mother comes most unexpectedly. Children whose desire to be part of a family agree to almost any condition while on the other side of the veil, to come to earth. Some of those children are blessed with incredible Mothers, whose desire vastly outweighs their ability to give physical birth. And so those Mothers give so unselfishly to love, nurture and teach these little souls.
Yesterday my sweet friend Lori had to unexpectedly bury her Mother. My heart ached as I witnessed the great love and sacrifice this event caused her. When I got to meet her new little grandson, and I immediately saw Lori's eyes looking up at me. The words tumbled out of my mouth instinctively, "Oh my goodness he has Lori's eyes!" Then as the unplanned words registered in my brain I said, "Oh that's not really a possibility is it?" I knew Lori had adopted each of her sons, so biologically the bluest eyes hadn't physically been sent down the gene pool to this darling boy, but it got me to thinking. And I still wonder today, when we reach the other side of the veil, when everything will be remembered and revealed, how closely are we all connected, regardless of our physical birth process? It's a thought I will continue to ponder. But in the visual connection I witnessed moments later as Lori held and lovingly kissed that little grandson, I marveled that I had completely forgotten she hadn't given birth to those boys. She had indeed Mothered them in every sense of the word. Even caring 'til death one of them who was called Home early.
I have many loved ones and friends around me who have had their children (and grandchildren too) arrive into their loving arms not the conventional way. I think of one niece who adopted and is raising her sisters twins. Of another who is raising her recently deceased brother-in-law's son. Even my own children, have opened their lives and hearts to love unconditionally their step-children. So many doing so much, under the sacred shield of Motherhood. Someone said once to me, "You are amazing. You love your step-grandchildren as much as you do your biological ones." I was a bit shocked at the comment, and responded "Well they are my grandchildren!"
May we each cast aside the self-recrimination, the unkind judgement, the feelings of being less-than, the comparison to others that are tools of Satan, designed to make us forget who we really are.
And so on this beautiful Mother's Day I bow my head, and lift my voice, in honor of Mothers everywhere. We all have shared the same feelings- hope, love, loss, inadequacy, loneliness, anxious waiting, and painful partings. In any, all, and every form we should praise and respect every woman we know. For in every heart we women are all Mothers, regardless of what we think we see in others. Let's love and embrace every woman as the crowning creation of a loving Father and Mother in Heaven. For that is truly who we all are.
Happy Mother's Day.
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