Thought for week beginning 14-3-21, Happy Mothering Sunday
Mothering Sunday, have its origins in the feast of the Annunciation (25th March), chosen to celebrate the motherhood of Mary, Jesus’ mother, and also the mother church. This has developed into a custom of celebrating motherhood (Mother’s Day), and by extension womanhood in general. Today, in the midst of all the joys and challenges, and complexities of family life, let us celebrate and give thanks to God for our mothers no matter what they are like, or were like, and where they may be. We could be thankful for the positives, even when our circumstances are not what we would have chosen. Our celebration can be an acknowledgement of the fact that the overwhelming majority of mothers, and mother figures, try to demonstrate God’s love and tender care – and even when they get it wrong their intentions are usually good.
We also celebrate with joy and thankfulness, the motherly qualities of the God who protects us, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings (Psalm 17:8 Matthew 23:37). Each one of us is so special that God gave the best thing that He had to save us: His Own Son, Jesus Christ. Through Christ, God demonstrated his parental love for us; a love that is unconditional,
non-judgemental and redemptive.
A Mother’s Love (Helen Steiner Rice)
A mother’s love is something
that no one can explain –
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain.
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring, come what may,
for nothing can destroy it
or take that love away.
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking.
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking.
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems.
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
and it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation-
A many-splendored miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God’s tender, guiding hand.
Take care and blessings to you all
Irene John
