MEDITATION:
Written by Sharon Betters, Executive Director of MARKINC Ministries.
Since 1994 I have wished I could jump over Mother’s Day. It’s supposed to be a day of honor, remembering our mothers, being remembered by our children. But in May, 1994 remembering only brought deeper sadness and longing for what was. That was the first Mother’s Day I experienced without our youngest child, Mark. Mark was born on May 11, 1977. He died in a car accident on July 6, 1993. The year of 1994 was a year of dreading every morning and every night. Mother’s Day and his birthday all at the same time seemed more than I could bear. Over twenty years later, I still weep over missing Mark even though I have found purpose and joy as well. My sadness embraces others on Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day…a day that brings great joy to the first-time mommy and great grief to the woman who cannot conceive. A day of satisfaction for the mother whose children are living by faith, a day of deep pain to the mother whose child not only rejects her faith but also her mom. A day of fun for the mommy whose children bring her breakfast in bed. A day of deep loneliness for the mommy who will never see her child again on this earth. A day of contentment for the mom who looks down the church pew at her husband and beautiful children. A day of isolation for the woman who will never bear children or sits in church with her children – alone. A day of “sinful pride” for the mother who thinks she raised perfect children, a day of shame for the mother who wishes she could start all over again. A day of refusing to think about all the mistakes we made as mothers, a day of remembering all the mistakes we made as mothers. A day of glee when children honor us, a day of hoping our children will honor us, even though they know better than anyone all the mistakes we made. A day for the grieving mother to remember all the things she didn’t do and all the things she wished she hadn’t done. Mother’s Day is a tough, hard day for so many. And pity the man who doesn’t give the right gift or the child whose gift doesn’t equal the need in his mother to be remembered. Yes, a hard day for some, a spectacular day for others. For me, this is a day of choices that are more easily made than they were in 1994. It’s a day I miss my son but no more than I typically miss him. And it’s a day I thank God for the blessings of sixteen years with Mark.
PRAYER:
This is a Mother’s day prayer by an unknown author.
Dear Lord, I approach you to give thanks to all mothers who so generously and freely give love, comfort, and guidance to their children every day. I ask you, Lord, to give them strength to carry on doing their work. Give them patience and let them see that they are loved, appreciated, and respected. I thank you for the sacrifice each mother makes every day. And I pray you to bless them and through them with your Grace. I pray this in your mighty name, Amen.
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