Dear Momma,
Happy Mother’s Day!
Wow the first Mother’s Day we are spending apart! Ever!
“I carry your heart, I carry it in my heart.”
I am quickly learning that women are the greatest conundrum of life. We will solve Israeli -Palestinian conflict, establish world peace and quite possibly develop cities on the moon, before we understand the complexity of a woman.
I concluded studies of Women’s Ministry at this time last year, thinking, “Women are the coolest things ever, we are powerful, strong, confident and simply amazing.” And in one year my fondest thoughts regarding the greatness of women have completely exploded. “We’re not the coolest things ever, we stink! We ruin everything! And we are so messed up!”( I have thought recently). Hence, women are life’s greatest conundrum. How can we be so great and such a hot mess all at once?!
On one side of the spectrum women are writing books, leading other women and teaching children in churches, establishing curriculums for higher education and taking esteemed political positions. While on the other side of the spectrum women are abandoning their children on the streets, naming their child ‘Stupid’, selling their bodies to strangers for money and engaging in witchcraft rituals where they are required to sleep with their family members. …Women!
Before I completely drift away from my mother’s day message or, go on a rant regarding complementarian vs. egalitarian views or, women’s roles in society or, the pros and cons of the evolution of women’s rights- let me state my point!
Mom, in learning about this wide spectrum of women and seeing firsthand how a mother’s role impacts her home, I am grateful for you beyond words. You love us so hard and truly made us kids such a priority in your life. I took for granted the fact that my laundry was always done, I took for granted the fact that I had multiple outfits to wear in a week, I took for granted the hot meals we had each night and the fact that you supported us in every adventure of life we dreamed to explore. You were at every soccer game, every school play, every doctor’s visit and, you held us every time we came to you with broken hearts, just needing a hug. AND I THOUGHT THIS WAS NORMAL! I thought, she’s just doing her job- she’s supposed to say those things, she’s my mother! Again, my view of ‘normal’ has become quite altered this year. Now, I really do believe “Normal is just a setting on a washing machine.”
Mother, you, for one second, were never ‘normal’. You are a gem. You are extraordinary. You have this huge heart that desires to serve everyone around you. You wish to make everyone feel loved, welcomed and important. Your heart breaks for the injustices you see around you and you move to action to create change. You are a listener. You are compassionate. And I must say, with all you have encountered throughout your lifetime, you are resilient. You endure through hard times. You are steadfast in your faith.
You have taught me so much: to seek God, to seek the good in people and show grace when it’s not easy, to help those in need, to laugh first when life gets hard and then get to work, to laugh often, to put others needs before my own, to have a deep conversation over a cup of tea, to say “I’m sorry” and… to always have enough food in the fridge to be ready for an army of people to come over during any day of the week (because you’ve created such a welcoming space that people are always at our house and I absolutely love it!)
Yes, it is hard to be away from you on your special day but, because of how you raised your children, it is no wonder we are eager to jump into the world and show them the love of God that was displayed to us through our mom. We are so filled and so grateful that now it is our turn to spread that love you showed us through the grace of God.
Thank you. Thank you for pursuing Christ. Thank you for showing us imperfection in your life so we could see the perfection of Christ working in you. Thank you for being honest. Thank you for loving each one of us differently, but in the way we needed it. Thank you for your laughter and your smile. Thank you for waiting for us to get out of the house even though we made you late to work sometimes! Thank you for all the things you did/do for me that I will never even know about because you do not seek the credit. Thank you for grace and forgiveness through the messy moments. Thank you for your unending, compassionate and generous, good love that has always been.
I love you. I love you to the moon and back and front a million times. You are so precious to me. And I cannot wait until 6 ½ months from now so I can give you hugs and kisses. Then we can sit and drink tea for hours and I will tell you all about my travels and the adventures I had, simply because you raised me to be released.
Happy Mother’s Day!
XoXoXo
JJ
