Mother's Day is sooo overrated. Perhaps this has not been the case for you but for several of my friends last Sunday's disappointment produced a flood of tears still trickling days later. I am not sure of all the reasons this day has become such a letdown, but it has for many. I know expectations play a role, then there is the whole confusion of who honors who, and how they should be honored. So I want to help you out with a few observations. Guys do not tell your wife, "But your not my mom." This will be met with a waterfall of tears. Daughters do not say to your mom, "What have YOU planned for Mother's Day? Remember this year I am a mom too?" And in general avoid statements like,"You're JUST a step mom do you celebrate mother's day?" And guys, we really do want to honor your mom but PLEASE do not make us feel like sloppy seconds or an afterthought. It hurts.
After a few days to ponder this I think several forces are at play. First are mom expectations. We are good at the whole planning a celebration thing. Or if we aren't good we can google it and make it look like we are. So being celebrated this one day seems like a small thing to ask. And then there is insecurity. Is there anyone alive who has not battled this cancer on their soul? Insecurity surfaces in pride, " I deserve to be honored." Or it shows up in shame, "I'm not as good a mom as Mary, I should..." Both views alter our ability to FULLY receive any type of blessing from our families. Ask God to replace the seed of insecurity with revelation of His favor for you.
Next is the hustle and bustle of life. Our family may not realize all it takes to notice and celebrate us.In fact our family might just be so busy with their own life that Mother's Day seems more like a bump in the road than a mission critical celebration. I would ask you fellows out there to consider approaching Mother's Day in the same way you would a project for your boss. Go ahead and mark April Fool's as the start date in you blackberry. Research and development:Contact her friends for ideas, notice specific things she does and take notes. Collaborate findings with your kids. Start on the best idea from the family brainstorming session. By the time Mother's Day comes you can all celebrate good times.
A third factor to overcome in Mother's Day is the hatred satan has for life. Sounds weird perhaps but God uses women to give birth to new creations. Satan births nothing and has no new ideas. His pattern is lie about God's character, lie about our worth, plant strife, repeat. Lisa Bevere in her book Nurture defines mothers as "Those who lay down life as to give life whether this is by way of natural childbirth, adoptions or rescue, advocates for children and change, protectors, nurturers, and healers of the sick. Ones who respond to a child's cry in the night, masters at multi-tasking, one who feeds and sustains life with warmth and what beauty she finds. She is a wiper of tears, calmer of fears, tender of injuries, instructor, teacher friend and confidant who gives advice whether you ask for it or not." If you were satan wouldn't you try to knock her off course as much as possible? Seriously, she is lethal to all things demonic. Guys keep this in mind and battle on her behalf. Your prayer covering makes a world of difference.
If Mother's Day did not go so well this year I would like to give you permission for a "do over." If your family is not up for it perhaps your girlfriends are. My prayer is that you are celebrated for the contribution you are making as a mother. I pray that His grace and mercy are felt by you everyday. May your weakness become His strength. May your children know Him at a young age and never wander away from His voice. And may His covering of favor release you to nurture. Because when you do that the world is turned upside down, in a good way. And may peace, joy, and hope be your stepping stones. In Jesus name, Amen
After a few days to ponder this I think several forces are at play. First are mom expectations. We are good at the whole planning a celebration thing. Or if we aren't good we can google it and make it look like we are. So being celebrated this one day seems like a small thing to ask. And then there is insecurity. Is there anyone alive who has not battled this cancer on their soul? Insecurity surfaces in pride, " I deserve to be honored." Or it shows up in shame, "I'm not as good a mom as Mary, I should..." Both views alter our ability to FULLY receive any type of blessing from our families. Ask God to replace the seed of insecurity with revelation of His favor for you.
Next is the hustle and bustle of life. Our family may not realize all it takes to notice and celebrate us.In fact our family might just be so busy with their own life that Mother's Day seems more like a bump in the road than a mission critical celebration. I would ask you fellows out there to consider approaching Mother's Day in the same way you would a project for your boss. Go ahead and mark April Fool's as the start date in you blackberry. Research and development:Contact her friends for ideas, notice specific things she does and take notes. Collaborate findings with your kids. Start on the best idea from the family brainstorming session. By the time Mother's Day comes you can all celebrate good times.
A third factor to overcome in Mother's Day is the hatred satan has for life. Sounds weird perhaps but God uses women to give birth to new creations. Satan births nothing and has no new ideas. His pattern is lie about God's character, lie about our worth, plant strife, repeat. Lisa Bevere in her book Nurture defines mothers as "Those who lay down life as to give life whether this is by way of natural childbirth, adoptions or rescue, advocates for children and change, protectors, nurturers, and healers of the sick. Ones who respond to a child's cry in the night, masters at multi-tasking, one who feeds and sustains life with warmth and what beauty she finds. She is a wiper of tears, calmer of fears, tender of injuries, instructor, teacher friend and confidant who gives advice whether you ask for it or not." If you were satan wouldn't you try to knock her off course as much as possible? Seriously, she is lethal to all things demonic. Guys keep this in mind and battle on her behalf. Your prayer covering makes a world of difference.
If Mother's Day did not go so well this year I would like to give you permission for a "do over." If your family is not up for it perhaps your girlfriends are. My prayer is that you are celebrated for the contribution you are making as a mother. I pray that His grace and mercy are felt by you everyday. May your weakness become His strength. May your children know Him at a young age and never wander away from His voice. And may His covering of favor release you to nurture. Because when you do that the world is turned upside down, in a good way. And may peace, joy, and hope be your stepping stones. In Jesus name, Amen
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