Navigating Mother’s Day
April 30, 2022 — Laura House
Interestingly, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates in countries around the world, but all have the commonality of purpose — honoring mothers. The gift of mothering my children has been the greatest blessing and joy of my life, and if you are a mom, you likely feel the same.
If you are reading this blogpost and are a newly bereaved mom, then you may be facing a challenge with this holiday coming up. How can you navigate the upcoming day? And if you are not a bereaved parent, how can you honor a grieving mom on Mother’s Day?
Let’s tackle the first question first. At the beginning of this road, I wondered how I would survive Mother’s Day, and you may be in that spot. How can you navigate this “celebration” of mothers, when you are grieving the most unimaginable loss you could ever face? You may also have children here on earth who want to honor you, but you don’t feel like celebrating.
My friend Jill Sullivan, from While We’re Waiting, and I recorded a message to grieving moms last year at this time. I want to share it again with the hope that our thoughts and ideas will be helpful as you anticipate the upcoming day.
And what about the second question? If you are not a bereaved parent, how can you honor a grieving mom on Mother’s Day? There are so many ways you can minister to a grieving mom at this time of year. No matter how many years it’s been since their child passed, they will treasure whatever you do to reach out.
A simple text message, a card, flowers, a phone call, or a Facebook message will mean the world. Just let them know that you are praying for them that day — and then, pray! If you knew the child, is there a memory or characteristic that you could mention in your message? When a friend remembers and honors a child who has gone on ahead by using their name, they give a gift of great magnitude to the grieving parent.
Another simple yet meaningful gesture is to acknowledge “National Bereaved Mother’s Day,” which is tomorrow, May 1. Intentionally positioned a week before Mother’s Day, this day provides a special time to honor bereaved moms and remember their children.
To my fellow grieving moms, please remember that the Lord is very near, and you can talk to Him, cry out to Him, and know that He loves you more than you can imagine.
To those of you who aren’t grieving but plan to reach out to a friend, thank you for showing the love and compassion of Christ to them. Your kindness will be remembered forever.
