On Sunday a lot of people will celebrate Mother's Day by going out to eat. This celebration evokes various emotions and feelings for the general crowd. Some have affectionate feelings for their mother while others are torn with feelings of separation from death, divorce, or estranged relationships. But whatever the case, there is a menagerie of moments.
As a mother of four children, I have experienced a vast array of moments and experiences, some good and some not so good. But I cherish them all because that is the way life goes. None of us is perfect and the whole world experiences imperfection on a daily basis. The problem with our standards today is that we are constantly comparing ourselves to another's life.
What if there is a woman who longs to have children, but has not yet seen that become a reality? That woman still has a mothering heart and her longings may be fulfilled by another path, a path that nurtures children in a school setting or a mentoring program. When we let go of "our" plan and ask God to use us just as we are, then we can experience a new path on this journey we call life.
Recently, I met a new friend while I was volunteering at a horse rescue. We engaged in conversation about our lives while cleaning horse tack. She began sharing how her life journey had been spent in a high-security government job working for a branch of the military. Our conversation continued weeks later when we found ourselves having coffee at a local coffee shop.
We had fun laughing and musing over dogs because we are both dog owners. She also volunteers at the local animal shelter and I loved hearing her stories about different dogs that she encounters there. Toward the end of our coffee talk, and still getting to know each other, I asked her if she had ever had any kids? She said she had hoped to marry and have kids but it never happened. She analyzed her past with a sense of defeat because these events had never taken place. I sensed remorse or a kind of sorrow; I wanted to hug her at that moment.
Instead, I quickly encouraged her that it was okay and that everyone's journey in life is different. She had many opportunities with her giftings of computer programming, logic, and details that I never ever thought about tackling. Now, in her retirement years she is giving into the lives of others through volunteering at various community groups. She also wants to help adults learn to read through a local literacy foundation. It was at that point I could hear in her conversation a mother's heart wanting to reach out and help others. She is fulfilling a mother's role by her caring for others. I could hear a menagerie of mothering moments.
My kudos to you today: Live your life in the now and not in remorseful states of the past or by hopefully longing for the future. You are created uniquely by the Master Creator. Love yourself enough to accept where you are today in life's journey, a menagerie of moments fitted for the Master's use.
She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hand to the needy. Faith in Action: Do what God puts in your heart to do and lend a helping hand.
Proverbs 31: 20
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