For Mum’s and those who aren’t and those who were… for those who are a daughter.
I have four biological children and one non biological son. And I have been in the class of ‘infertile’. Long before Mrs. Graceful entered the scene we attended the Infertility Clinic. Subjected to daily poking, prodding and hormonal medication was all par for the course. Being told when to *enjoy each other* and ‘when to abstain’ was also part of it all. Marital intimacy on cue! Each month would arrive with hopeful expectation only to be burst by the news that we were unsuccessful. Again.
Mother’s Day was such an emotional hurricane for me. I had my own dear mum and mother-in-law to honour and I encouraged my son (non biological son) to honour his mum but all I really wanted was to be pregnant, to carry John’s child. Oh, what mixed emotions. Intense, strong longing, such anger… such gratefulness mixed with jealousy, envy and a range of conflicting emotions from each end of the scale. I saw that appeared not to appreciate that which I so desired.
Finally one day, we received the good news. We were pregnant! Now I would get to talk that fabulous journey that is motherhood… A few months after Falcon was born my own mum, my best friend, died. A few years later and I became the mother of a prodigal who, it seemed, wanted to make my life miserable. To have every special day ruined, as a reminder of how much I was despised. Pain. Hurt.
A Word of Encouragement
So my heart reaches out to those who are mothers but don’t have not a child to hug and kiss. For those that are mother’s yet have not a husband to share the journey with. For those that are mother’s and have lost a child to death. To those who would love to honour their mother today but can’t. To those mother’s who feel like a complete failure. To those who have not what they desire… I want to offer you a hug and an ear to listen. And a word of encouragement.
Motherhood does not define us
I know your heart aches. I know it hurts. But please remember that being a mother is not the greatest virtue or good or calling that can happen to you as a woman. It’s hard at this time of year when *motherhood* is held up as the ‘be all and end all’. Motherhood does not define us. Even being a wife is not the greatest calling. It is a role, within a calling but it is not our primary goal. Being a woman, a daughter of God – a woman being transformed into the image of God’s Son is who we are.
So if motherhood is not the goal or purpose then what is? Being conformed to the image of Christ – to the glory of the Lord God!
Whether or not you are infertile, have miscarried, have had an abortion, have one child, a child with disabilities, or more than one – my purpose is the same as your purpose… to glorify the Lord God. How? By being transformed into the image of Jesus Christ!
God uses many ways in order to do His transforming work in us. For some, He uses motherhood. Others, He uses non-motherhood. But the goal is the same – being conformed to the image of Christ.
All women: single, married, mothers, pregnant or not have a similar common factor – to be transformed into the image of God’s Son.
Mother’s Day? It’s all about Jesus!
Hi Susan. Thanks for sharing that – thanks for sharing your pain, but bringing glory to God at the same time.
Excellent post Susan! you are absolutely right that our purpose is to be conformed to the image of Jesus! I tried to click on a link but it wouldn’t work (to find out more about you).
Hope you had a great Mothers day yourself.
Thank you Belinda and Rosemary,
It’s easy to get caught up in motherhood and forget our truest and foremost calling, isn’t it? Especially in homeschooling circles 🙂
Thank you Susan for that reminder. Often we seem to almost “idolise” motherhood to the point where it must become very hard for people who are struggling in that area, for whatever reason, to bear. We need to remember as you said, that our first identity is who we are in Christ. I love the way you say these difficult things so straightforwardly, but so gently and lovingly.