How did you celebrate?

Hello?

Did you spend yesterday with your mother? Both my mother and my mother-in-law live out of town, so I was unable to be with them; yet, I talked with both of them at length and showered them cards and gifts. I was blessed to spend the day with my daughter and my husband, but my son left Friday for his study abroad experience.  Thanks to the use of technology, I was able to spend some time with him via Skype.  It was great to see him and talk with him.  Just as we disconnected, my cell phone range and my precious Ghanaian family called me from Africa to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day.  It was a fabulous day.

As I thought about Mother’s Day, I was thankful for the way I’ve been able to be mother to many and thankful for the various mothers in my life.  There are many ways to be a mama. The most obvious is by giving birth.  God said in Genesis 9:7,

As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it.”

Motherhood was His plan from the start; however, there are some women who haven’t had children, either by choice or circumstance. That doesn’t mean they can’t be mothers. God created the concept of adoption. He adopted us into His family and He blesses those who adopt others into theirs [Ephesians 1:5].  Not only does adoption provide the opportunity for women to become mothers and expand their family, it also offers an option for those who find themselves with an unwanted pregnancy. God in His infinite wisdom knew people would find themselves in this situation and created the plan of adoption to offer an alternative to abortion [1 Corinthians 10:13].

There are also women who can’tor haven’t given birth and haven’t legally adopted children into their families that have the opportunity to be mothers, spiritual mothers.  These are women who take on the role of mother in someone’s life by loving on them, speaking life and destiny into them, praying for them, correcting them, and spending time with them. Jesus Himself saw the value of that even at His death in John 19:26-27 when He said,

When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Dear woman, here is your son,’ and to the disciple, Here is your mother.’ From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.”

I have two children by birth, I have not legally adopted any, but I’ve lost count of the spiritual children I have.  Between youth ministry, my children’s friends, my missionary trips, and the survivors of sex trafficking God has brought into my life, I have a full quiver.  I love them all, pray for them all, and am overjoyed when I hear from them.

What about you? Do you have any biological children? Have you taken the step to legally adopt? Or have you poured your life into those God has brought into your life?

I have one mother who gave birth to me.  She isn’t just my mother, she’s one of my dearest friends on this earth.  But I have countless other women who have loved me, invested in me and helped shape me into the woman I am today.  I am so very thankful for them all.

Be sure to thank all of the mothers in your life who have loved you and made you into the man or woman you are today.