Over the past few days, I have been pondering on the magnitude of the role that mothers play in our individual lives, and I can’t help but give thanks to God.
There are many things we sometimes take for granted and yet if we took a step back, we would actually be overwhelmingly surprised at how graciously God has loved us to give us the blessing of mothers.
I can personally testify that on many occasions in my own life, there have been many instances where a mother figure has:
– given me timely counsel without which I could have knocked,
– given me a perspective on life that I couldn’t have grasped without their guidance,
– pointed me to a direction in life which I wouldn’t have taken without their recommendation,
– supported me in ways unbelievable even when I didn’t expect to find help,
– understood me to such an extent that they could see what I see and helped me to reach that goal,
– prayed for me with such heartfelt prayers that I could find my balance in life to walk the path and run my race.
The list goes on and on, but this is just to mention but a few.
Yesterday, I was having a casual conversation with my mom and she randomly mentioned how she has noticed my attention to the relational gap between our generation and theirs and how my concerns about the decline in the quality of friendships and community has affected our generation. At some point I asked myself, “Why I’m I even surprised?” But it blessed my heart that she could identify how over the last two to three years, it has been on my heart for God to help us navigate life while building and nurturing healthy relationships to the glory of His name.
I thank God that he gave mothers the grace to bring the balance we need in life, that where we don’t see risk, and the areas where we think we have life figured out, they have the eye to notice those small things that could destroy us yet humbly and wisely guide us out of such traps.
Now, whether it’s your biological mother or any other mother figure, you can never miss the opportunity to receive of the grace God has given them for such rare moments of direction, guidance and counsel.
I have appreciated that without their eye or sixth sense, we could have made the worst choices in life and probably gotten our selves in spaces that could have destroyed us: it could have that friend they warned you about, or that job opportunity and business idea they felt uneasy about, or the famous Sandal whooping moments we had in our salad days.
There are certain things we became only because their hands were a little bit close to our cheeks, their facial expressions that taught us manners, the side stomach pinches the put us in order when in public, the disciplining and chastisement that formed character in us and the upbringing that gave us a language which has defined our paths in life.
What I know is that all of us have a thing or two to be grateful for when it comes to the responsibility, the care, the guidance, the support and love that is embedded in the relationship we have with our mothers. I may not exhaust everything concerning the magnitude of the blessing of our dearest mothers but I believe all of us have our buckets of gratitude to pour out towards them.
I have watched my friends become mothers in the years past and I can’t help but appreciate the grace God has given them to do what they do. With life becoming busier, and having less wise counsel in a world full of subjective opinions, it never gets easier for today’s young mother to navigate raising children, building a career, building a home and find purpose in life: but God is faithful, who began this good work in them, and I believe He will see it accomplishment. He will strengthen, He will guide. He will sustain, He will uphold. He sees you and will help you in your times of need, friends!
Whatever your story is with or about your mother or mother figure, take some time this month to appreciate them, buy them something to show your gratitude for the little every day thoughtful things they do, pray for them and support them in any way you can. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together for good, will work you into His most excellent harmonies.
Stay Blessed.
#WiGTyT
