Today is Mother’s Day. It is a day to celebrate our mothers and being a mother. It’s a time to remember all the sacrifices, love, and contributions our mothers made that helped us to become who we are today. For some, it is a joyous day. For others, it is a day of great sadness; those who have lost their mothers, those who never had a loving mother, those who are mothers but have lost a child, those with broken relationships with their mother or their children.
Today is my fourth Mother’s Day without my beloved mother. It is my nieces’ and nephews’ second Mother’s Day without their mother. And it is my cousins’ first Mother’s Day without their own beloved mother. It is a day of pain, sadness, and bittersweet memories for many of us as we think of the ones that are missing from our day. The phone calls that won’t be made, the dinners that won’t be had, the hugs and gifts that won’t be shared. If it is a day of pain for you, I pray that God will draw you near, shelter you beneath His wings, and tenderly minister to your wounded heart. I pray that His peace, love, and comfort will be showered upon you today.
Matthew 5:4 (CSB) – Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
When my mother passed, she was surrounded by people who loved her and that she loved, including my aunt and sister. Following her passing, they went outside to a small garden at the hospital. As they stood there, a butterfly began flying around them, reminding them of the beauty that still exists even in our deep pain and darkness. Since then, we began seeing butterflies everywhere, especially in dark moments when we really needed to see the goodness of God. After my sister’s passing, when her children and grandchildren were going through her belongings, a butterfly flew in and landed on her granddaughter’s shoulder. God continues to show us that He is with us in our darkest moments. My family has face tremendous loss over the past seven years and the pain, sadness, and grief can be overwhelming at times. But as we continue to lean on the Lord and intentionally anchor ourselves to Him, He carries us through the storms. He hears our cries and responds.
Psalm 34:18 (CSB) – The Lord is near the brokenhearted; He saves those crushed in spirit.
My friend told me that God sends her rainbows, and she began seeking signs of His goodness every day. She would pray each day for God to send her a rainbow. In turn, I began asking God to send me a sign that He is with me. I began chasing butterflies and chasing God. Every time I see a butterfly, it reminds me of God’s goodness and His faithfulness. It is a reminder that He brings beauty from the ashes, life from death, and His hand is still at work in our situations. When my life is the darkest and I feel like I will drown in the pain, I look for the light in the distance…the light in the storm that is drawing me near to God. I cry out to God in my pain and brokenness, and He rescues me. He carries me through. There have been moments when I just could not carry on on my own. In those moments, God would gently carry me through whatever I was battling. Life is hard. Life is painful. But God is faithful, and He will never leave us or forsake us. Whatever you are battling right now, God is in it with you. He will give you strength that you never thought you would have. He will bring you a peace that surpasses all understanding. He will bring beauty from the ashes of whatever painful loss you are facing. If you, like me, are facing the empty seats at the table, invite God to take a seat at the table and show you where He is in your circumstances, where He is at work behind the scenes for your good and His glory, and what He needs you to see and know to do all that He has called you to do. Trust that He will use even your pain and your broken circumstances. He will bring purpose to the pain.
Psalm 86:17 – Show me a sign of Your goodness; my enemies will see and be put to shame because You, Lord, have helped and comforted me.
When you feel lost and alone and at your lowest, look for your own butterflies in your life and signs of God’s goodness and reminders that He is with you, always. For my aunt, it was butterflies for my mom and cardinals for her son who she had lost a few years before. We would sit on her porch and watch the butterflies drawn to her flowers and the cardinals in the trees. And we would remember the goodness of God. May you be blessed right where you are and may you see the signs of God’s presence in your life. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!
コメント