I love Mother's Day. Mothers have a tough job and deserve to be honored. But I gotta be honest; for the last six years, I don't enjoy being at church on Mother's Day. For one reason.
“Will all the mothers in the congregation please stand!”
I get it. It's a nice gesture to honor all the moms there. All the ladies that spend their entire morning herding children through the morning, barely giving their own appearance a second glance; they deserve that moment of recognition. The women who have raised children and have several beautiful grandchildren to brag on; they deserve it too.
It's just a really awkward moment for some of the rest of us.
I'm not a mother in the physical sense of the word. I haven't birthed or even raised an adopted baby. But I consider myself a mother. My children are just growing up halfway around the world without me. My three years spent with the African Children's Choir gave me 49 beautiful children that I was blessed to “mother.” They're growing up and some are practically legal adults now (???!!!), but they will ever remain in my heart.
If I stand during that moment in church, I will get funny looks and might even start rumors that I'm pregnant or something. So I sit, and feel a little sad about the kids that aren't a part of my physical life anymore.
I think of my sister in law, who went through the agony of waiting for an adopted baby. She has a beautiful son now, and can stand proudly as she cuddles that beautiful boy, but I'm sure the years of waiting made Mother's Day a painful reminder for her.
I found this post and thought it was beautiful. I hope you will take the time to read it.
And Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers, aunties, sisters, nannies, grandmothers, and friends out there.