Mother's Day is a 'hallmark holiday', let's be honest! Not that a thoughtfully chosen card, a clean house, a meal prepared NOT by mom etc., aren't very appreciated, they are! But in general, this day can be loaded with some big feelings, high expectations and often unmet desires.
A friend shared with me this beautiful prayer which is extremely worthy:
To the Moms who are struggling, to those filled with incandescent joy.
To the Moms who are remembering children who have died, and pregnancies that miscarried.
To the Moms who decided other parents were the best choice for their babies, to the Moms who adopted those kids and loved them fierce.
To those experiencing frustration or desperation in infertility.
To those who knew they never wanted kids, and the ways they have contributed to our shared world.
To those who mothered colleagues, mentees, neighborhood kids, and anyone who needed it.
To those remembering Moms no longer with us.
To those moving forward from Moms who did not show love, or hurt those they should have cared for.
Today is a day to honor the unyielding love and care for others we call 'Motherhood,' wherever we have found it and in whatever ways we have found to cultivate it within ourselves.
- Hannah Kardon, Pastor at Elston Avenue United Methodist Church”
There are so many faces of motherhood! When we all broaden our definition of 'motherhood', we are able to see the faces of many women who have mothered us into our being.
To finish today I thought today I might share some of the saints, who are Mama's worth venerating!
Venerable Margherita Occhiena (mother of St. John Bosco): She worked alongside her son. She made sure that the children received beside St. John Bosco were properly care for in every way.
Saint Monica (mother of St. Augustine): One of the reasons St. Augustine became a saint was owing to St. Monica's prayers over him.
Saint Zélie Guérin (mother of St. Therese): She and husband, Louis, had a profound faith that inspired their five daughters all to live consecrated lives.
Saint Felicity (mother of seven martyrs): Her children suffered martyrdom. She too joined them in death and eternal life.
St. Margherita, St. Monica, St. Zélie and St. Felicity- pray for us. Over each face of motherhood, grant us your holy intercession. Grow every mother into the fullness of her vocation, in the measure God would see fitting. We make our prayers through the Son of our Blessed Mother, the holiest of all mothers. Amen.
