What’s been most true for me of Mother’s Day is simply my lack of honesty with myself and my family about the day. I say, “It’s okay, you don’t need to do anything for me,” and then feel frustrated when I get what I ask for.
Also true of me, and I suspect many women: I’m a really good giver and a really lousy receiver. Mother’s Day is a good chance to practice working on this. If I’m always busy being a giver, my children do not have the chance to be needed. My husband missed out on serving me. I’m being too much Martha and not enough Mary.
If my hands are constantly filled with the tasks of giving, when will they be open to receiving the blessings God wants to give me?
Why I Won’t Give Up on Mother’s Day
I’m not quite ready to give up on Mother’s Day. Yes, it’s commercialized, but is that really so bad? If the Hallmark company is capitalizing on reminding me to thank my mother, more power to them. She deserves it and they deserve my $4.99.
I will take my nap and enjoy the meal so lovingly prepared for me. I’ll take every card and gift and exclaim over each treasure. I will ask for gifts I want, time I need for a break, and allow my family to serve me on this day. I won’t pretend it doesn’t matter, and I don’t appreciate some recognition.
I will give others the gift of being needed. I will let them serve me. During my time of rest today, I will give God my heart with it’s damaged, dying places, jealous interweavings, and do-too-much tendencies. I will allow God to heal.
I will open my hands.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. (Psalm 147:3)
