A Different Kind of Mother's Day

“Are you a mother?” the sweet waitress at our restaurant asked me this afternoon. She stood by our table, ready to give me a cupcake should I say yes. There is no way that young lady could have realized the emotions she stirred up inside of me with that simple, innocent question.  As I looked around the restaurant, I said a silent prayer for any of the women who were also experiencing sadness this Mother’s Day.

On November the 7^th, I thought I would be spending Mother’s Day 2011 eagerly anticipating the bundle of joy that was to arrive the first week of June. One day later, I found out that would not be the case. Instead of excitement, I feel pangs of unresolved grief as I think about that little one whom we never got to meet.

I never really understood why Mother’s Day was so hard for so many people. But now, in some small way, I do understand. This day can stir up all sorts of emotions for so many different reasons. Those emotions range from grief for a mother who has passed to sadness from a broken relationship.  Perhaps you have experienced miscarriage and, like me, you are fearful about what the future will hold. Maybe you are battling with infertility, and your heart yearns and breaks all at the same time on this day.  

For me, this holiday is different than ever before. It is difficult to have all these emotions stirred up.  I know I am not alone; many of you are experiencing pain on this day from past wounds. Many of you have wounds that are far more difficult than mine. My heart goes out to you.

Dear sweet sister and friend, whatever hurt this holiday may bring back to you, know this: you have a great High Priest who bears your grief and pain. You do not have to bear it alone. Others may not know what you are going through, but Jesus does.  I am praying for you today.

Surely our griefs He himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. (Isaiah 53:4).