It occurred to me last night that I should post something for Mother’s Day and so this morning I set about looking for a previous post that I may have used in a former blog and to my surprise there was none. I have not written a Mother’s Day post before. Why is this? At the depth of my soul, all I can think of is shame.
Motherhood is one of the greatest calls by God. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward,” (Ps. 127:3). We are called to be stewards over these little people and raise them up to follow the Lord (Prov. 22:6). But they do not come with manuals or directions, they are all different in personality, strengths, and needs. We cannot protect them from the cruelties of the world, which breaks our hearts.
We love our children fiercely and unwaveringly, but we do not always receive that love in return. For some of us, this is not a happy day, but a day of grief. Even as toddlers they can say the meanest things. Of course, what comes out of the mouths of babes can be overlooked and even found somewhat comical. But as they get older their words and actions tend to cut deeper. Today my heart is with the mothers of prodigals.
Four children I have raised and four prodigals I love. They don’t all look the same, as in the story of the prodigal son, there were two sons, they were both prodigals, one left and the other stayed. A prodigal child is not a new concept, it is not an American concept, or a consequence of Western culture, though culture does have an influence. Prodigals go back as far as the garden when Eve took the fruit. Oh, how God must have grieved as He watched the fall of His children.
Mothers of prodigal children, you are not alone. The God of the universe feels your pain every day. But there is hope! Whether you raised your children in church or not, regardless of the mistakes you have made there is always hope in Christ and shame holds know place with Him. Today as we grieve those children who have pushed us away, those who keep us at arm’s length, and those who go through the motions but do not have their lives right with Christ, be encouraged.
We are in this together, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them,” (Matt. 18:20). And in Joshua 23 we read, “One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you,” (v. 10). This is something I feel deeply right now and would like to explore more as I pray for my own children. If this is you, please reach out. Let’s pray together and fight together, the battle is the Lords.
Abba,
Today as You fill our hearts with hope and love we lift our lost children to You. They were Yours before they were ever ours, only on loan for a little while. Lord, we ask that you start a move on their hearts that turns them back to You. We ask for unity in our relationships with our children, help us to be Your light where there is darkness, and strengthen our resolve. In Jesus name, Amen!
Have a blessed Mother’s Day!