Today is Mother’s Day 2021 and I want to take this moment to honor you, Jackie, the mother of our children.

No one gets to choose the person to whom they refer to as Mom.

Motherhood is a distinct calling placed by God on a woman as she makes way for the sacred space of yielding to life’s greatest calling, that of giving birth and then raising a new generation.

A child being carried in the womb, given life under a mother’s care knows the voice of the Father and recognizes their origins as Scriptures declares,

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.” (Psalms 139:13-16 NLT)

Other than trusting God and relying on His word, you had no instruction manual as you assumed the role of being a Mom nearly 40 years ago.

Prior to each birth, you sacrificed your physical existence as changes took place inside of you that left you feeling up, down, and in-between as the child within grew.

I am quite sure you were apprehensive and wondered silently and aloud whether you were up to the task as hormonal and other factors came into the picture.

The question, “Am I enough?” most likely was a close companion.

You were more than up to the task, but not in your own strength.

Each birth was a moment of uncertainty in which you simply trusted God for the day.

The day each of our daughters, Jessica, Bethany, and Brittany was born was a defining moment in our lives and one which brought great joy.

For a moment, given the wisdom and lessons God has taught us since then, I wish we could step back in time to revisit each birth. I know this can’t happen, but perhaps by God’s grace inside of us He will give us that sacred glimpse in some way, shape, or form.

You experienced sleepless nights, long and lonely days, and juggled many balls extremely well as our growing family were babies, toddlers, and young children.

As they grew into teenagers and young women, you were there to guide them along the path which only a mother can provide.

You gave of your time as nutrition source, cook. teacher, nurse, playmate, cheerleader, and many more roles with a listening ear and a caring heart.

They could not have asked for a better example than you as you were chosen by the Father to be their Mom.

Their Mom!

This alone was and is your distinct and most important call in life.

As our daughters married and left our home, sorrow gripped your heart as they flew from the nest. You felt the ache of emptiness and it hurt. This is perfectly natural and so rightfully understood.

As your heart pined for them you did not realize “the mission” was not over.

In fact, it was taking new form and the process of releasing the former for embracing the latter gradually became easier.

Your role now, whether up close in person or from a distance, has been transformed from being a day-to-day caretaker to that of mentor to the ones you call daughter and friend.

In each of their lives, the daily trials of being a young mom and raising their own children bring a barrage of questions, frustrations, and joys as they share with you their own motherhood experiences.

You have been chosen to gently lead them, pray for them, and to guide them on the whatever path may be the one they are walking as you guide them to Jesus who will tell them “this is the way walk in it.”

The proof is evident as we now have eight grandchildren, who despite their daily ups and downs, are being raised by our daughters whose hearts are set on following God as their Mom does.

I am grateful YOU are their example and I am equally blessed how they have assumed this role in their own lives.

God has given you the gift of creating a legacy not for you own pleasure, but for the advancement of His kingdom in our daughters and through their children.

I am honored that God chose you to be the mother of our children and there are no words which I can write or say that can fully expresses my thanks to you for not only assuming this role, but doing it with such grace.

I hear the voice of the Father speaking to you, “Well done!”

I love you and leave you with this as I honor you today.

“Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all.” ({Proverbs 31:28-29 NLT)

Happy Mother’s Day 2021!