“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary. It’s an act of infinite optimism.” ~ Gilda Radner
Today, we celebrate a glorious day, a sad day, a troubling day, a day filled with different emotions: Mother’s Day. For some, it is a glorious day because they are celebrating their mothers. Their relationship with their mothers is good and wholesome. They have every reason in the world to look up to their mothers.
For others, it is a sad day because their mothers have gone before them in death. There might be a void in their lives because their mothers are no longer with them.
For still others, Mother’s Day might be a troublesome reality because they do not get along with their mothers. Perhaps they do not live with their mothers or have any knowledge about their mothers. As others celebrate a special day, they are filled with a unique kind of pain that might be a mixture of grief and anger and envy.
Yes, Mother’s Day is filled with all sorts of emotions. Yet, here we are, celebrating the day nonetheless. And we do so to recognize those women who took that big gamble to become mothers. It is not easy bringing a child into the world nor is it easy to guard and guide that child. The world is a scary place and many mothers live in perpetual worry about what may happen to their children, no matter their age.
Becoming a mother is an exercise in optimism. It is a way of saying that the world can and will be a different place because of the child brought into the world. It is a way of saying that a person has hope for the future. It is a way of cooperating with God’s creative power and ushering another soul into existence.
Motherhood is a full time job. Moms should get “combat pay” for all the messes in life that come their way. Yet, most mothers that I know would do it all over again, no matter the pain or grief or worry because the joy in seeing a child excel, in seeing a child smile, in seeing a child move on in life is all the reward they desire.
To our many “mothers” out there — biological, foster, adoptive, step-mothers, godmother, or mother-figures — our prayers and gratitude go out to you. And, to all the mothers out there who do not have good relationships with your own, prayers for healing come your way this day. Mary, our good mother in heaven, bless all of our mothers this day!
FAITH ACTION: Pray for all mothers, that they may feel God’s love on their special day.