Mother's Day: A Call to Praise and Lament

Written by Erika Castiglione

Mother’s Day can be a mixed bag. In the past year at Waypoint, we have had the joy of welcoming in a beautiful crop of beautiful babies. We have also mourned the loss of a precious child. As the body of Christ, we are called to “rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” Mother’s Day provides a unique opportunity for us to do both.

We can mourn with those who have lost a mother, as well as those who have come from abusive homes and have broken relationships. We can mourn with those who are suffering from infertility, praying with hope and asking forgiveness for any insensitive comments or actions. We can do the same for those who have always wanted a family and yet are still waiting for God to provide a spouse. We can weep with those who have lost a child and we can honor the memory of the one they so dearly love. We can pray with mothers who are waiting for prodigals to return. We can weep with those who suffer the regret of having terminated a pregnancy. We can step in and serve single moms who might feel overwhelmed or alone. We can pray and serve, knowing that we might one day be the one in need of these same prayers.

At the same time, we can rejoice. We can thank God for faithful mothers who cared for us, encouraged us, and taught the word of God to us. We can thank God for all of the beautiful children at Waypoint whom God brought into our family this year through birth and adoption. They truly are a gift from God! We can pray for women who are training this next generation to know and walk with the Lord. We can thank God for the women who have been spiritual mothers to us through mentoring and leading us to Christ. We can pray for all who are doing the labor of spiritual multiplication through evangelism and discipleship.

And, somehow, in God’s perfect design, the weeping and the rejoicing don’t cancel each other out, but they both give glory to God.

I’m glad that God chose to populate the world by creating families. I’m awed to think that each of us was once carried and formed inside of another. I marvel that both passion and sacrifice bring life into the world. Even more marvelous, we get to be called children of God.

I love that when Jesus looks over Jerusalem, in all her pain and rebellion, he longs to gather the people together “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” I pray that all those whose pain seems magnified on Mother’s Day would find rest under those strong and caring wings. And, as our tears are mixed with joy, a great offering of praise would rise up.