Each year as Mother’s Day rolls around, women experience many different feelings. While no one’s story is exactly the same, there are several groups that women may find themselves in.
- Women who gave birth to their children and are parenting them.
- Women who have made an adoption plan and have chosen a different family to parent their child.
- Women who are unable to bear children.
- Women who have lost a child due to tragedy.
- Women who have suffered from a miscarriage or still-birth.
- Women who have had an abortion(s).
By looking at this list, there is only one group that eagerly welcome Mother’s Day. The rest of the groups of women generally experience great grief on Mother’s Day. Feelings of sadness, desperation, regret, shame, guilt, emptiness and more wash afresh and anew as this special day rolls around.
Jessica Russo shares her experiences of having two abortions within a year’s time and how her struggle intensified as Mother’s Day rolled around each year. She said, “What I didn’t understand at the time was that even though I had chosen abortion and had never laid eyes on my babies, I was a mother. I felt loss and emptiness because my arms were empty.” She shares great insights from her journey and you can read more of her story by clicking HERE.
So what is a church to do on Mother’s Day? It is immensely important to celebrate mothers on Mother’s Day!! After all, motherhood is a beautiful part of God’s plan and it is definitely something that deserves celebration. It’s also important to be aware of those who are struggling with a pregnancy loss – for they are still mothers. They just don’t have a physical human next to them in which to celebrate. Acknowledging their loss may be helpful. Many around them don’t want or know how to help them so words are often left unsaid or if something is said, it can be a painful response. Perhaps the Church could have resources to help those grieving pregnancy loss available. See our Resource Guide HERE for a few ideas.
As we celebrate mothers on Mother’s Day, as we should, let’s also be messengers of hope to those who are experiencing loss with the following truths:
- God is with them and cares for them. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18
- God is our Restorer. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12
- God is our Healer. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3
Let’s celebrate wholeheartedly motherhood in May. And, let’s also be a conduit for hope and healing to those in our congregation with empty arms.
