Mother's Day ... a New Perspective

My family has celebrated Mother's Day for me for 24 years. Some years brought beautiful gifts ... others years were celebrated with homemade preschool cards. Some years the family took me out to dinner at a nice restaurant ... other years we stayed home, and they cooked and baked for me. Some years we went on adventures to a park, a beach, or the zoo ... other years we stayed home and played games. The constant has been ... my children have always known that their Mama loved them ... and Mama has always known that her children love her. No matter what type of cards are received ... no matter what type of gifts are purchased ... no matter what type of food is made ... the question of a mother/child love has never arisen. As soon as my children have been able to speak in semi-complete sentences ... they have been able to say, "I wuv u mummy ... happy mudder's day."

This year, however, I have seen Mother's Day through 3 new sets of eyes. I have seen Mother's Day through the eyes of the orphan ... through the voices (though they are 6, 9, and 12 years old) that are just learning to say, "I love you Mom." The children who are just learning about the American version of mother/child love.

I have thought much this week, about the mother of Jacob, Sarah, and Rachel. All I know of her, is that she gave birth to 6 children (3 girls and 3 boys) ... she got sick with a stomach tumor ... she died on July 4, 2006. We have no pictures; so there is no reference point as to what this woman was like. Since Peter is 28 years old, I would expect that their mother may have been about my age ... interesting to ponder the similarities. She and I lived across the world from each other, never expecting our paths to cross into each other's cultures. During the same time she was raising 6 children (born over the course of 22 years) ... I was raising 10 children (born over the course of 18 years). Our 3 youngest children were each born within a year of each other. (coincidence?) Who, but the Lord, could have orchestrated such a miracle, as to bring our children together?

I wonder ... what was their relationship like with their mother? did they know their mother's love? did she tell them she loved them? did they say, "I love you Mom." to her ... was she ever able to fully care for these youngest three? Jacob had 10 years with his mother ... but instead of living the carefree life of a child, he became his sisters' primary caretaker. Sarah only had 3 years with her mother, as she went to live with her older sister (across the country) after Rachel was born. Rachel only had 4 years with her mother ... so young to watch her mother die. I don't even know if the girls have any memory of the woman that gave them birth. Jacob has many memories ... filled with the pain of being his mother's caretaker through her illness.

Now ... many miles away from the village where they had to say good-bye their mother ... they are learning that the Lord has given them a 2nd chance to have a "Mom" ... a 2nd chance to say, "I love you, Mom." ... a 2nd chance to celebrate Mother's Day. (I don't actually know if they had ever heard of the holiday before this year.)

While my children have always made Mother's Day cards for me, which have said many versions of, "I love you Mom.", the cards I received this week brought a new dimension to the mother/child love equation. These cards said more than, "I love you." Each of the children took the time to really spell out WHY they love their new Mama. Here are a few excerpts ...

To Mom.

I love being with you because you love me!
I love you because you make me happy.

Love Rachel



And a fill-in card from Rachel ...

My mom is as sweet as ... a butterfly.
My mom is as beautiful as ... a flower.
I love my mom because ... she loves me.


Happy Mother's Day!

Mom I love you. I hope you will like this thing I am giving to you. May God bless you. Thank you for all the good things you have done.

Love Sarah D.


Hi mom. Happy Mother Day.

I love you. You are the best mother in this house. I hope God be with you and God like you because you treat us like the way God want you to treat us. God love you very very much because of that. Do you know that I like the way you treat me?

I am sorry that I can't buy something nice for you. When I grow up I will buy something nice for you.

Do you know that when you walk, God is with you?

Jacob loves Mom.
Mom loves Jacob.


Twenty-five years ago, I was told that I needed to have a hysterectomy ... I was told that I would never bear children ... I wondered if I would ever be able to celebrate Mother's Day.

Oh what miracles the Lord has done! How good and how faithful He is, to give us the desires of our heart.