I gave in and admitted that God was God. -C.S. Lewis

I was raised with a strong mother who instilled in us a “glass half-full” kind of mentality. And if anyone had a right to have a glass half empty mentality with what life had thrown at her, it was my mom! She raised us with the awareness that if you don’t celebrate the small things, those blessings will pass us by without us realizing what a blessing they truly are. And in all reality, we have SO many things to celebrate. Life isn’t always rainbows and butterflies nor will it ever be. We are promised trials and waves, and within these trials comes immense growth and perseverance. With my very own past of heavy laden trials, I fully understand that some of these sufferings can leave you on a bathroom floor wondering if you can make it through the next day, through the next season. Wondering why you? But I do know that wrapped up within my 30 years, I can look back and be truly grateful for God’s plan overriding mine, and for his grace and strength being far greater than anything I could have ever comprehended within this heart and soul of mine. Contained within these trials provides us with a gratitude for the good things that we do have after enduring the days with the bad. Without the bad, we would not appreciate the good. Life is full of chaos as we are faced with the growth in difficulties that seem to infiltrate our lives daily and momentarily. The essence of celebrating the little and big things is honorary to the blessings that God has given us despite our circumstances.

Today is Mother’s Day. It’s such a wonderful and special day of celebration to so many, but in all reality, a very painful day for many as well- including difficulties within my own spirit. My biggest dream has always been to be a mom but it wasn’t until the last couple of years that I understood the wait and the loss. It is a special day to me with the blessing that I get to celebrate my precious mother who stood beside me in church this morning and who has made life so much more beautiful with her presence, but at 30 years old, it also leaves me with a pit of emptiness in my heart yearning for something that so many long for and already have. God just had a different sequence than I had in mind. I’m starting to learn that I like his plan a whole lot better than mine! The wait is part of my story and now I can look at that and smile with the knowledge of his promises. It’s God’s perfect timing. On Mother’s Day, those feelings of enormous pain tend to show their ugly head to so many, depending on the pain of their past or present. Some have had moms walk out on them left to fend for themselves, some have endured the pain of losing children, some have had wonderful mothers to pass away from a terrible illness. No matter what the loss, it can be an all too painful reminder. Holidays tend to bring a shift in demeanors and emotions that so many have not yet comprehended where the underlying emotions come from. These special days bring about so much excitement, wrapped up with pain from the past, present, and future made obvious.

Sitting in church this morning surrounded by loved ones, I have an assurance that we were all surrounded by people with struggles just as painful as the next person. I watched the grown man beside me wiping tears throughout the service as the pastor was talking about the glory of our mothers and I watched the tears fall even heavier as he acknowledged the people that were hurting on this day and the ones who had lost a mother this year. I wanted to wrap him up. I watched tears fall from my very own mother’s eyes with many emotions wrapped up with questions as to what kind of mother she was to us. I would tell you that she was an angel, she would tell you she wasn’t good enough. It’s the typical heart of a mother wanting to be the very best for the children that they brought into this world. As she wrapped her arms around me, tears fell freely and the grace and love that I know I am so blessed to have standing beside me. I knew I wasn’t alone in God’s house this morning.

The most special thing about what I saw and felt this Mother’s Day morning was people coming in with heavy hearts, fighting with their own pains and struggles and leaving with a sense of strength and peace from what only he can provide us with. As the music played, and the crowd worshipped and raised their hands, freedom flowed into their hearts, souls, and minds. And I think that’s the most glorious thing about his presence. He will meet us anywhere we are willing to meet him. And that’s what he did. He healed hearts and eased the pain of so many. I am beyond grateful for all of my struggles in life and I mean that with my whole heart. His plan is always far greater than what we could have ever dreamed. I have a settled assurance in God’s promises. He has not failed me yet nor will he ever. Thank him in those trials.  With the tears that flowed freely, also flowed a sense of gratefulness.

So, to all the struggling people, mothers, and to the ones who are waiting on that promise to be fulfilled, know that you are wrapped up extra tightly today.  Know that God is close to the broken hearted (Psalm 34:18) and he feels your pain. You are precious and he has a grand plan that he is playing out in your life. And one day, you WILL get to look back and smile at how beautiful your life was and is destined to be. And one day, you will get to hug those precious children of yours that were too short lived in your lives, and one day you will be reunited with that special lady who helped to make you the person you are today. Don’t let the trials of the moment make you forget his vows to and for YOU.

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you

This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.

-Amy Young