by Sabrina Beasley
Becoming a mother brings a whole new meaning to Mother’s Day. Even though my first Mother’s Day was a little cloudy (Ben was only a few days old), I’ll never forget my sense of pride and accomplishment. I felt like I needed a badge of honor to celebrate.
This year I’m a little more lucid (thanks to a few months of actual sleep), so I finally get to celebrate. I told my husband that I wanted a corsage to wear to church. Some might believe them to be passé in fashion, but it seems to me less of a fashion statement and more like my coveted badge of honor!
I thought of a few other ways I would like to make this year’s Mother’s Day special. Perhaps they might give you a few ideas, too.
1. A Letter of Dedication. I want to write out a letter, officially dedicating my life and service as a mother to the Lord. As much as I want to be a good and loving mother, I want more to be a mother that reflects Christ in everything I do. There are a lot of well-meaning women who try to do this entire, magnificent job alone, and mothering is really too much for one person to handle—we need God. We need His strength, wisdom, grace, and mercy. I don’t want to raise my children the way I want them to be brought up. I want to raise them the way God wants them to be brought up. And for that to happen, I have to be listening to His will, His Word, and His voice, be dedicated to seeking His desire for their lives.
2. A Prayer of Blessing from my Husband. My husband is my spiritual leader, my covering, and my partner in parenting. He, more than anyone, understands my needs as a mother and as a wife. Not only do I feel a prayer of blessing would be an appropriate gift of honor and spiritual uplifting, I also believe it would be an appropriate sign of my submission to his authority as the leader of our home.
3. Time to Honor My Own Mother. Exodus 20:12 commands us to honor our fathers and mothers—honoring our parents is important to God, and I can see why. Becoming a mother has opened my eyes even more to the sacrifices that my mother made for me. I could never repay her for all that she has given me. Several years ago, I wrote a tribute to honor her. It was the best gift I’ve ever given her—my heart and soul typed out on paper.
No matter what kind of relationship you have with your mother, let me encourage you to do the same. A tribute can be healing, cleansing, and powerful, but more than that, when you honor your mother, you honor God. (See more on the importance of tributes and how to begin writing one.)
Perhaps this isn’t your first Mother’s Day. Maybe it’s been 3 or 12 or 25 years since you first became a mom. In any case, these three ideas can be customized to your stage of life. Has your mother passed away? Write a tribute to her anyway, or write to a woman who has been like a mother to you. Is your husband uninvolved in your life? Have a spiritual mentor give a prayer of blessing over you. Are your children grown? Write a letter to dedicate yourself to God’s will as a grandmother or spiritual mother to other women.
Let this Mother’s Day remind us all of how important our job really is to God and to our families. And by all means, if it’s a corsage or a splurge at your favorite restaurant, do whatever it takes to make this day special—you deserve it, Mom!
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