Mother’s Day is this weekend. For many it is a time to celebrate with the woman who loved and nurtured them from birth and childhood and continues into adulthood. For some, like me, it is melancholy as my mother has resided in her heavenly home for more than 30 years. And for some women, it is a day that brings sadness as they were unable to fulfill their dream of motherhood.
Mother’s Day was created by Anna Jarvis in 1908; it became a National Holiday in 1914. Ironically, Jarvis would later denounce the holiday’s commercialization and spent the latter part of her life trying to have it removed from the calendar. I get Anna Jarvis. The day set aside to honor mothers has been manipulated for monetary gain.
I’ve come to view Mother’s Day differently in recent years. The Hallmark Card definition just doesn’t work for me. For the very reasons I state above. What I do think we should celebrate is the power of mothering.
The word mother in Hebrew and Greek is simple – it means “mother.” What is interesting, however, is how the definition is elaborated. In Hebrew, it adds “parting, point of departure, division.” In Greek, it adds, “source of something.” When children are born, they part from their mother physically. The mother is the source from which life enters this world.
However, the initial giving of life didn’t come from a woman. “Then the Lord God took some soil from the ground and formed a man out of it; he breathed life-giving breath into his nostrils and the man began to live.” (Genesis 2:7). The Holy Trinity birthed humanity. We departed from our Father to live in human form; He is the source who gave us life. And He didn’t just speak us into existence. No. With the gentle and deep love, He breathes His very breath into our lungs that we might live. God is the example of mothering that we should all embrace.
God is comforting. “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13). He is eager to hold us close when we feel sad or lonely. To remind us of our value when we are struggling to “live up” to misguided worldly standards. To simply hold our hand and sit quietly as we melt into His perfect security.
God is nurturing. “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). Nurture means to care for and encourage the growth and development of someone or something. When we keep our eyes on God, we allow ourselves to be taught by Him. To learn the truth. To be disciplined and directed. With a gentle hand on our back, He guides us.
God is celebrating. The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. He will rejoice over you with gladness. He will be quiet in his love. He will delight in you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17). I love this verse so much I have it taped to my computer at work. I think we often forget that our Father in Heaven rejoices with us and for us. I love the image of God being so delighted in me that He sings with gladness! God mothers us as He hugs us in celebration. He laughs with us. He dances with us. He celebrates us.
I think Mother’s Day should be a day to celebrate all the people in our lives who mother us well. Our earthly mothers. Our grandmothers. Those women who mother us and mentor us. And the men in our lives who have made us feel cherished and protected. (Yes I know they have Father’s Day, but stay with me.)
I’m not saying you shouldn’t shower your mama with flowers, cards, dinner, sweets (I’m partial to the sweets!). Mothers deserved to be honored. I’m just asking that we think outside the earthly definition of what it means to mother. That on this Mother’s Day, we honor all who have mothered us. And we strive to be a mama in the lives of those who desperately need one. Family or not.
Because when we do, we honor the first giver of life. The one and only who breathed us into existence. The Holy Trinity who desires us to share the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ as we mother our world.
Look for ways to model God’s mothering nature in the lives of those around you. And to all the mama’s out there, Happy Mother’s Day!
This week’s prayer can be found at: https://simplyjoy.online/mothering/let-me-mother-as-you-do