living loved

She is a strong person, and people respect her. She looks to the future with confidence. She speaks with wisdom and teaches others to be loving and kind. – Proverbs 31:25-26

Unfiltered. Teeth and hair unbrushed. Sunday morning tired. Happy Mother’s Day.

The word “mother” means so many things to so many different people and situations and circumstances. Some of us have struggled to have babies, some of us have never had babies, some of us mother the unwanted and the difficult, some of us have lost our own mommas, and some of us carry the weight and burden of abandonment from a mother. “Mother” just has so much weight to it.

There are three definitions to mother:

1. a woman in relation to her child(ren)
2. to give birth to
3. bring up (a child) with care and affection

I bet Jesus’ momma was tired. She was in all relation the birth mother to Jesus. She gave birth to him. And she brought Jesus up with such care and affection. Remember when she stored up in her heart all of things that were spoken over him as he laid cuddled and wrapped in her arms. Remember when He stayed in the synagogue and Mary in panic went searching for Him worried about where He was. Remember when he left to live out the ministry his Father called him to. Remember when she stood and watched her Son carry the weight and sin of the world. Remember…she was so tired from raising children, worrying for her children, standing boldly for her children, watching her son, THE SON, die an unimaginable death. Remember.

Mommas, being a “mother” is tiring, heart throbbing and wrenching all in one beautiful beat, swelling with pride and sometimes defeat. Being a mother is love and discipline and character building and tearing down and building again (for you and your babies). Mothering is . . .

Ladies, you may not carry the title “mother” but I would guess that most of you have mentored, cared for with love and affection, disciplined, wiped away tears, gave hugs, put a Band-Aid on something, listened and gave advice, and all the other millions of little things we do for someone else. Womanhood in many ways is Motherhood. And what a beautiful image of Christ and His love for others.

My Rourie gave me the “Tired as a mother” cup for Mother’s Day early this morning along with a great big hug, giggle, and smelly unbrushed toothy kiss. My hubs sent me the scripture for the blog, and my Ivan gave me a hug and freely allowed me to tickle his armpit. And Sukes . . . she declared it was Sukey-Mothers Day.

Embrace the moment. Every moment. Find contentment exactly where you are today, and strive to be the Proverbs 31 woman we’ve been called to be. After all, aren’t we all, tired as a mother. . .

XOXO, Loni