Jill Johnson
By JILL JOHNSON
Just in case you didn't know, this Sunday is Mother's Day. I lost my mom 20 years ago. It is really hard for me to even believe it's been that long. I hate that she didn't get to see the weddings of her grandchildren or her seven great-grandchildren. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of her and miss things about her.
Mother's Day always makes me a little reflective and sad, but it also makes me realize how blessed I am. God has provided "other" mothers to assist me in the years after my mom died. I had a very sweet lady named Sarah who God sent my way after my first child was born. I honestly don't know how I would have made it without her. She was my other mother for many years, and I loved her dearly. Then there is my mother-in-law, Gloria. I am sure she is the best mother-in-law in the world. She treats me like her own daughter and loves me just the same. She is a sweet, loving, kind, and Godly lady. God blessed me with the best. In honor of Mother's Day, I have a little acrostic with some things I have learned from experience and from others over the years about motherhood.
Ministry - Motherhood is a ministry. Whether you are the mom or a support system for other moms, all that you do is important in the life of the children you raise. God gave us children and grandchildren as a blessing, a responsibility, and a ministry. "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it (Proverbs 22:6)."
Offering yourself. As a mother, you are on duty 24 hours a day. You hear your name called and are needed for something all through the day and at times the night too. Mothers put the needs of others far above their own needs. I tell my children and my grandchildren there is nothing that I wouldn't do for them if it is in my power. Mothers offer themselves to serve others in ways that sometimes might feel unnoticed, but it does not go unseen by God. Biblical love and service to our children and grandchildren not only have a generational impact but also an eternal impact.
Time - The older I get, the more I am aware that our time here is short. We have to learn to treasure all the time we have and live each day to the fullest. I don't want anything to be left unsaid when I am no longer on this earth. I want those who I love dearly to KNOW I love them. Treat every day as if it is your last, making the most of your time for the glory of God. In Psalms 39:5, David understands that human life, even at its longest, is brief compared to God's eternity.
Heaviness - Life is heavy at times, but we have a God who can handle the heaviness for us. I look back on my days as a mother, and there have been some really heavy times. My children have experienced heartache, and that weighs heavily on my heart. Dealing daily with a special needs daughter can be a heavy load to carry and navigate through. Life in general is heavy, but it is not meant to be carried alone. Learn to let the One who can carry the heavy loads bear them for you. "Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved (Psalms 55:22)."
Encouragement - Where in the world would we be if we didn't have those around us to encourage and cheer us on? Be an encourager to those around you. Encouragement is the fuel that can keep you going on those hard days. Receive it when it is offered to you and give it to others often. "So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you will all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind (1Thess. 5:11 MSG)."
Reliance on God - All of the words above are impossible to achieve unless you rely on God. He teaches us to offer ourselves willingly to minister to others. He reminds us to treasure our time with those we love. He can carry us when life is too heavy to bear the load alone. He IS our encouragement to keep going when we want to give up. He is our strength and can sustain us when life is tough, and we are weak if we just rely on Him.
Motherhood is more than a role - it is a gift given to us by God to allow us to share His love, mercy, patience, and grace with our children, grandchildren, other mothers, and all who cross our daily path. My prayer on this Mother's Day is that we will let every act of love, no matter how small, be treasured, seen, and used by God for His greater purpose. So, not just today, but every day, let's not leave our love unspoken. Don't wait for a particular occasion. Speak about it, show it, and let the people God has provided in your life know they are loved, important, and cherished.
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Jill Johnson finds spiritual applications in her everyday experiences as a wife, mother, grandmother, and Georgian. Jill is retired from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and is available to speak to your church's women's gatherings. Reach her at jjohnson@gabaptist.org.
