Mother's Day 2022

 Mother’s Day is typically difficult for me. My mom died suddenly when I was 33. She was 56. This year was no exception. This one surprised me. It was on a single digit day for one. So, it was earlier than “normal.” Typically on Sunday mornings Chris and I wake up and get to church around the same time, but this year he was serving in the tech department. So, he had to be at church earlier leaving me at home alone. I felt alone from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. But, in my alone I also felt very tenderly held... As if the Lord was reminding me that He knew I was hurting. I began to wonder how I was going to hold it together to make it through serving in the nursery and then attending worship while receiving all the “Happy Mother’s Days” that would gently be tossed to me... because they would be received very differently than they were sent. I don’t know how to turn off the magnifier. So, I reached out to two close friends and just let them know that I spent the last hours paralyzed. 

 

After I had a quick breakfast and left for church the Lord started showing me how much He had prepared for me in the day. As soon as I walked in the back door at church Chris was there to greet me with a sweet “good morning”. Then I was greeted by the new Student Ministry staff guy who gently tossed me the first audible “Happy Mother’s Day” with a spring in his step as we crossed paths down the back hallway. I confidently said, “thank you” and kept walking. I took about half a dozen steps past him and he called back, “Jen, how are you doing today?” I had to stop and turn around to answer him. “I’m okay. Mother’s Day is hard for me. But, I’m okay. Do I look sad?” He said I didn’t, but I made a note that he’s a very discerning person whether he read it on my face or the Holy Spirit prompted him to ask. Regardless I received the message through him that the Lord knew I was having a rough day and He was gonna light my day up with sweet reminders. 

 

As the morning unfolded, I received cards from people who were not connected in any way (other than Jesus & our church) with paragraphs of handwritten affirmations. It seemed like someone had sent out a notice that I needed encouragement, but they hadn’t. Only the Lord could have prompted their hearts in these ways. I got to pick where Chris & I went to lunch and what we did all afternoon (thrift shops & movie). As the sun was setting I was wheeling our clean laundry back to the bedroom to put it away and start into the new week and joked that he could come help me. Chris jumped right in and we got it done in half the time with twice the fun. It was my YES DAY and I didn’t even know it. The Lord went before me. He knew I was caught off guard and struggling. He protected and provided for me in ways I didn’t even know what or how to ask for. So, Mother’s Day 2022 goes down as a year the Lord blessed me greatly and heard my cries and I noticed. 

 

Sometimes my soul waits for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning. And I somehow completely miss it. I miss Him. I don’t recognize it for what it is. Sometimes I try to take care of it myself. What about you? When did you last find yourself paralyzed by busyness, fear, grief, confusion, frustration, the struggle, temptation, and etc...? What did you do to get out of your paralysis? How did the Lord meet you in those moments? How did you meet the Lord in those moments? Take a moment now to remember and praise Him.

 

I’m seeing a theme the last few months... “for with the Lord there is steadfast love.” So very thankful that He is so patient and near and steadfast.

 

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.” Psalm 130