Mother’s Day. Celebrated by many yesterday. Such a beautiful day. This year, I wasn’t with my children and grandchildren, rather Rob and I are on our way to Canada to breath in the sights and sounds of that gorgeous country. On the way there, we had the opportunity to stop in Seattle and catch up with friends, Aaron and Rachel Young. So, although I wasn’t able to be with my children, I was blessed to be with some of our spiritual children. Needless to say, we shared many laughs, talked about dreams yet to be realised, the ups and downs life has shown us and so much more. It was a full day.
Although not in Sydney and not attending our Mother’s Day service at church, I was able to get my hands on something that was shared yesterday. In fact, I believe it was my beautiful daughter-in-love, Nel who came across this stunning poem by the author, Amy Young. It’s a beautifully written, extensive description of what it means to be a woman. I hope you like it:
THE WIDE SPECTRUM OF MOTHERING
To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you
To those who lost a child this year–we mourn with you
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stain–we appreciate you
To those who experienced loss through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment—we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms–we need you
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children–we celebrate with you
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children–we sit with you
To those who lost their mothers this year–we grieve with you
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother–we acknowledge your experience
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood–we are better for having you in our midst
To those who have aborted children–we remember them and you on this day
To those who are single and long to be married and mothering your own children–we mourn that life has not turned out the way you longed for it to be
To those who stepparent–we walk with you on these complex paths
To those who envisioned lavishing love on grandchildren, yet that dream is not to be–we grieve with you
To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year–we grieve and rejoice with you
To those who placed children up for adoption–we commend you for your selflessness and remember how you hold that child in your heart
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising–we anticipate with you
This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.
So, as the glow of Mother’s Day begins to fade into the mundane, everydayness of life. May you reflect on these words and may we all cheer each other on because being a woman although very rewarding, life can be hard. It can be lonely, and it can be sad. May we find strength in the words, the arms and the laughter of one another. Live well, friends.
Much love,
Susanna Bateman #littlemiraclescommunity
