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Mother’s Day: A Day to Honor Non-Traditional Mothers, Too
There’s more than one way to become a mother, but often that fact is neither touted nor commemorated, and that leaves many women feeling rather uncomfortable—and forgotten—on Mother’s Day. (Para español, lea abajo.)
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Plan Ahead for Mothering Day
In less than two weeks North Americans will celebrate Mother’s Day, a holiday that is not part of the historical church liturgy. It’s a great day for Hallmark and for restaurants. And for a lot of families. But it’s also often the worst day of the year for infertile women. For them going to a house of worship on this holiday can feel more like going to the house of mourning. During the decade in which my husband and I experienced infertility treatment, lost multiple pregnancies, and endured three failed adoptions, I found it difficult enough to see all the corsages on M-Day. But then, as if to shine the…
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Honoring Spiritual Mothers
You did it. You survived another Mother’s Day. You’re licking your wounds, but you made it through the day. You plastered a smile on your face and gave a polite nod and shrug of the shoulders in response to the all too familiar question, “When are you going to have a baby?” You, and the other non-moms, successfully pushed back tears and sat staring at the bulletin while a church leader asked all of the mothers in the congregation to stand for applause and recognition.
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For Those Who Mourn on Mother’s Day
Often the worst day of the year for an infertile woman is Mother’s Day. On this holiday, going to a house of worship can feel more like going to the house of mourning. During the decade when my husband and I went through infertility treatment, lost seven pregnancies, and endured three failed adoptions, I found it difficult enough to see all the corsages on M-Day. Sometimes a well-intentioned leader would ask all the mothers to stand, and I would remain seated. Some years a leader would even call for the youngest mother to stand and then smile awkwardly when a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old unmarried teen rose to her feet. On…
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Ten Days Until Mother’s Day
My husband (who leads on our church’s preaching team) asked me to preach on Mothers’ Day months ago. And without hesitation I declined. He asked me again weeks later. Again I declined. I didn’t feel fit to stand in the pulpit on Mother’s Day. I didn’t even want to attend church that day. My Mother’s Day plan entailed sitting around in my bathrobe and slippers. I would not even brush my teeth. I would just eat baked ziti and chocolate truffles, and watch Wonder Woman—the movie, not the TV show. If you don’t know the difference, I’ll share an easy Wonder Woman reference guide: one had a male costume…
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A Mother’s Day Prayer for Women Who Love to Learn and Go Deep
For every thinking Mom who lives in the daily tension between reading Ferdinand the Bull and Philip Yancey, wiping noses and writing articles, running carpool and managing projects, this prayer’s for you: May you know God’s pleasure as you read widely and think deeply. Like Eric Liddel, the British Olympic runner who famously said, “I feel God’s pleasure when I run,” may you sense his pleasure when you exercise the intellectual gifts he has given you. Perhaps you didn’t love school or even make the honor roll. But you love to read and could spend your entire Saturday with a book. Maybe the older you became, the…
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Movie Review: Moms’ Night Out: A Laugh and a Missed Opportunity
Moms' Night Out, the movie starring Sarah Drew ("Grey's Anatomy") opened over the weekend, right in time for Mother's Day. And Christians filled theaters to see it. The film is clean, it's funny…and it's also a missed opportunity. Drew’s character, Allyson, and her two friends — played with expert performances by Logan White and Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond)— want just one thing: a peaceful night out eating food off a menu while enjoying uninterrupted adult conversation. But for that to happen the dads have to parent their kids for three hours. And they are incapable of doing so without endangering their offspring. The film is billed as a “true-to-life…
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Prep for Mother’s Day: Infertility Facts & Some Advice
It’s less than two weeks away—Mother’s Day, which, like all holidays, can be difficult for lots of people. Those who have lost or are estranged from parents or children feel pain on the day set aside for honoring mothers. Included in that group of mourners are the infertile. For them the day serves as a reminder of the gift they long to have but that continually evades them. The subject of infertility is surrounded by many myths. So let’s put some of them to rest. Myth: Infertility and sterility are the same thing. Fact: Infertility is not sterility. Infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of unprotected relations…
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Infertility and Mother’s Day: Where Are the Mourners?
Next Sunday is Mother’s Day. M-Day for infertile couples. The most-dreaded day of the year. One of my former teaching assistants, Benji Bruneel, is now a youth pastor in California, and he sent me the following about Mother’s Day. I am posting it for your edification with his permission because it’s totally relevant to our ministries this week. (Benji’s journey prompted me to post this column about infertility last year.) As a new father, I have the privilege this May of celebrating my beloved’s new role in life: mother. This month will mark the first time that we have ever celebrated Mother’s Day as a family of three. It will also mark the first…
