Mothers' Day this year was a little different to most years. Firstly, because my mum is visiting & we had a chance to celebrate it with her after missing it for the last 6 years. Secondly, the sermon given by my church fuelled new thoughts & feelings on motherhood I never paid attention to.
Motherhood has been part of God's plan from the very beginning. It was Eve's job to be a helper to Adam & part of that involved being a mother - to help Adam multiply & subdue the Earth. It was also part of God's rescue plan for sin (Gen 3:15). Motherhood is undoubtedly important as part of God's overall plan for humanity.
The onset of feminism caused many women to have second thoughts about being a stay-home mum. Some think having a career is what gives them identity. Some just don't feel very motherly & cringe at the thought of motherhood. Many think that it's an unimportant task to be "just a mum".
I began to feel slightly sad in the middle of the sermon. If motherhood is such an important part of God's plan for women, what about the women who do not get a chance to experience it, either because of infertility or because they remain single? Do they somehow lose some part of their womanhood? What then is God's plan for them as women specifically that is different from men? I believe that this is something men cannot truly understand. Women have a natural God-given instinct to nurture, help & care, & motherhood is a very tangible aspect of this. The privilege it is to make a positive Christian impact on a precious little life & leave behind a godly legacy is such a fulfilling thing that parents have. I'm careful not to have an idealistic view on what motherhood is - it's very hard work & a lot of responsibility! But I believe that children are a true blessing from God.
I've heard stories where God has changed the heart of women from seeing children as a burden to a blessing & I ask the question - what about me? Sometimes I ask God why He has given me the strong desire to be a mother if that's not something He has planned for me. I don't know what the future holds yet, but not to have that chance is a possibility that I need to be preparing myself for. Maybe there are certain aspects of my character which need refinement before God entrusts me with a little life, or perhaps God has other things in store for me.
I cannot begin to fathom the pain of the women who face infertility, miscarriages or the death of a child. Whether you are a woman in these circumstances or a single woman like me, we need to be thinking about how we can use our womanhood to honour God. I've yet to work out what this looks like or what the answers to my questions are, but I know that my contentment needs to be found rooted in God & not even in His good gift of motherhood. For I am created to be far more than a mother. I am a child of God.
Motherhood has been part of God's plan from the very beginning. It was Eve's job to be a helper to Adam & part of that involved being a mother - to help Adam multiply & subdue the Earth. It was also part of God's rescue plan for sin (Gen 3:15). Motherhood is undoubtedly important as part of God's overall plan for humanity.
The onset of feminism caused many women to have second thoughts about being a stay-home mum. Some think having a career is what gives them identity. Some just don't feel very motherly & cringe at the thought of motherhood. Many think that it's an unimportant task to be "just a mum".
I began to feel slightly sad in the middle of the sermon. If motherhood is such an important part of God's plan for women, what about the women who do not get a chance to experience it, either because of infertility or because they remain single? Do they somehow lose some part of their womanhood? What then is God's plan for them as women specifically that is different from men? I believe that this is something men cannot truly understand. Women have a natural God-given instinct to nurture, help & care, & motherhood is a very tangible aspect of this. The privilege it is to make a positive Christian impact on a precious little life & leave behind a godly legacy is such a fulfilling thing that parents have. I'm careful not to have an idealistic view on what motherhood is - it's very hard work & a lot of responsibility! But I believe that children are a true blessing from God.
I've heard stories where God has changed the heart of women from seeing children as a burden to a blessing & I ask the question - what about me? Sometimes I ask God why He has given me the strong desire to be a mother if that's not something He has planned for me. I don't know what the future holds yet, but not to have that chance is a possibility that I need to be preparing myself for. Maybe there are certain aspects of my character which need refinement before God entrusts me with a little life, or perhaps God has other things in store for me.
I cannot begin to fathom the pain of the women who face infertility, miscarriages or the death of a child. Whether you are a woman in these circumstances or a single woman like me, we need to be thinking about how we can use our womanhood to honour God. I've yet to work out what this looks like or what the answers to my questions are, but I know that my contentment needs to be found rooted in God & not even in His good gift of motherhood. For I am created to be far more than a mother. I am a child of God.
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