My friend Vanessa and I have this running joke every Mother’s Day. I’ll send her a text or she’ll send me one with the same words and same response every time. “Happy Mother’s Day, because you’re a mother to so many!” To which the response is, “It’s just because you’re such an amazing woman of God, that He’s taking extra time on him” From the time I was 16 up until this past year, Mother’s day has been a weird day for me. I’d sit in church as the pastor asked for all the mothers to stand up so that we could honor them. I’d stay seated, smiling and clapping for the heroes on their feet around me. Then they would pass out gifts to all the women, because whether or not you WERE a mom, you were a potential mom and deserved a gift. After church I’d usually receive a card or two from the parents of the students that I lead in our youth ministry, and the titles on the cards were usually, “To a mother in my life.” or “You’re a mother to so many…” For a long time, this would frustrate me. I know, it shouldn’t but it did. Because, if I’m being completely transparent, being a single woman in ministry the title of mother is often a bit dismissive.
Now, I’m not going to go off on a feminist rant about women in ministry, but my point is, I’ve never considered myself a mother. I was a preacher, teacher, mentor, friend, shoulder to cry on; essentially, I have been a mother for a long time.
Being back in India after my first visit, is a bit surreal at times. This was the first place I ever really felt like a mother. It was a little boy who had no mother, who made me realize I could be one.
Our ministry these past few weeks has been to the children of Sarah’s Covenant House, here in Hyderabad, India. There are four houses with at least 20 kids in each house. Six days a week we work with children who have disabilities of some kind. In the morning we do preschool. Which looks a bit like, “Hey! No, wait come here! Hey sit down, don’t put that in your mouth! It’s not nice to hit. Can you share? Please don’t climb on that. We don’t bite people. Wait, uh… I’m not touching that. What is that smell? Is that a booger, Oh dear lord!” It’s full of laughter, and somedays you can see progress. In the afternoon we do one on one time with some of the children that don’t get a lot of attention. I have four and they are amazing! I will tell you about them soon.
Along with them, I have 9 girls that have completely captured my heart as well. They are mobile, english-speaking, vibrant, beautiful, young american girls who are hungry for God and to do something great in this world. At training camp, they asked me if they could call me “Mama”. After my own experience on the world race and all that went into being called “Mama” I have realized that sometimes, that’s exactly what people need you to be. I find camaraderie with Paul as he writes in 1 Corinthians 9:19, 22-23
“19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.”
This season in life, being “Mama” means pushing these girls to pursue God with zealous abandon. Being “Mama” means listening to their hearts, wrapping my arms around these daughters, and finding joy in my tear stained shoulders as they allow Jesus to bring them into identity and freedom. This season of life, “Mama” means praying my guts out everyday and making sure I’m completely attentive to Holy Spirit, because I’ve got 9 pairs of eyes watching my every move, and the scary, beautiful thing is, I see seasons of my life hidden within their own.
At this point I’ve not come to make peace with being called “A mother to many”, I welcome it. Children, much like brothers and sisters aren’t bound by DNA anymore, but by heart, and if I’m being really honest, we DO share DNA, a Holy kind that came from a Savior who gave His life to make us one family.
