A Tribute to the Many Faces of Motherhood
Mother’s Day 2023

Unwavering devotion is a wonderful picture for motherhood. I don’t want it to add undue stress to your already tired state though. Instead I pray that it brings your rest, for the true Unwavering One is leading you. He wants to be strong when you are weak, not asking you to perform but to be. He will teach you to persevere as your love expands and becomes unwavering like His. Always though he begins with blessing.
This blessing is for the new mom with expectant eyes, for the mom who faced a miscarriage, for the mom who daily remembers an abortion, for the mom whose arms are left empty to the death of the child, for the mom whose womb remains yet barren, for the mom who has opened her heart to foster care, and for the mom whose children came through adoption. This blessing also reaches to the moms at different stages, the mom with busy toddlers, the mom with school-aged children testing their boundaries, and the mom with children leaving the nest. This blessing also belongs to the mom with a child whose rejection aches heavy, the grandmother who now finds herself raising another set of children, the mom caring for a child with an illness or special needs, the moms yet to be, and to those who know or may not know that the calling of motherhood also beckons them.
So, Dear Hearts, I and the Lord have been thinking about you and we bless you.
A Blessing for Mothering
A baby in arms a heart full A smile that plays in the eyes Unbelief that this one is yours and will call you mom Blessed be the God who filled your womb You are blessed mother, run to your strength. A prayer sent to heaven above A cry stifled with tears warm What was to be Has not come to pass Blessed be the God who hears You are blessed mother, Morning, noon, and evening His ears hear your cry. Unsteady you sit tears stream Your heart yearning, longing To be full just one more time The emptiness threatens to overtake Blessed be the God who sees You are blessed mother, His arms tenderly hold your broken heart. A desert bare A wilderness of unknown Where is the promise of a life-giving womb? Again confronted with a womb full And your heart aches with longing at first And then with desperation Will it ever be? Blessed be the God who knows You are blessed mother, For He makes known to you the path of life. A gift given To experience your spiritual adoption in the physical Your heart swings open And you embrace one whom your soul loves For a brief moment they have found a home in you Blessed be the God who shows how to love open handed You are blessed mother, He chose you from the foundation of the earth - you are His. A family but children- just a desire A joy to be with friends and inhale their giggles full The beautiful souls unclaimed Your heart couldn’t resist The whisper, Love them So you do and your heart almost implodes Blessed be the God whose joy is our strength You are blessed mother, In His presence there is fullness of joy forever more. The baby is on the move The days seem to stretch But nights are short and mornings come quickly Frazzled, dazed, tired, hungry Don’t numb, distract, or give in to indulgence Blessed be the God who gives rest You are blessed mother, He invites you to come bathe in His rhythms of grace - Sabbath A child vocal and strong Curious explorer setting his own boundaries Testing and prodding in whiny vocabulary Your triggered-buttons pushes A sigh of exasperation escapes Is this even worth it? Blessed be the God who shepherds You are blessed mother, As you guide your child, so as a lamb your Heavenly Father guides you to Quiet waters and restores your soul. The long days turn to short years And you look up and the child is grown Where has the time gone? Could it be time to completely let go and let fly? Blessed be the God who bids us follow You are blessed mother, For the same God who calls you to follow Him, calls also your child. Anger, resentment, rejection Taking, withholding Longing for a small piece - if even that The longing of a sweet blossoming of friendship as you both grew up Still just a longing Blessed be the God who intercedes You are blessed mother, For you have an advocate who day and night intercedes for you and your son at the right hand of the Father. Your grandchildren are a crown But you did not anticipate their care They have burrowed deep in your heart Life is different then imagined Though rich and full of joy Blessed be the God who renews your strength Your are blessed mother, For they who wait for the Lord shall run and not be weary. Fear grips your heart Disease, incurable, not sure - more tests This babe was supposed to be whole and healthy Your heart pounds No control Only trust Blessed be the God who heals You are blessed mother, For He gave his only Son by whose stripes we are healed. The refinement of motherhood Is not exclusive It draws and attracts The giving of ourselves The unveiling of our souls to each other Spiritual motherhood a calling Strong resilient and needed Look around and take them in The ones placed within your boundaries on purpose Blessed be God who sets our times and spaces You are blessed spiritual mother, For He has caused your boundaries to fall in pleasant places; surely you have a delightful inheritance. Rejoice! Light up in smiles Clap, sing, dance, create The blessings you have received Are good and gracious In beholding them you find more intricacies of Christ It is His grace and kindness that leads us to repentance In Him you have received everything you need Blessed be the God who is pleased to reveal You are blessed mother, For He has made known to you the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure! ~DFD

‘The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.’
Psalm 16:6
I leave you with this quote by Gloria Furman from her book Missional Motherhood, “Mothering or nurturing is not just a calling for women who have biological or adopted children. Mothering is a calling for all women. Every Christian woman is called to the spiritual motherhood of making disciples of all nations.”
Gracefully,

