if Mother's Day {isn't} for you....

This is a repost, but an important reminder to the childless that you are not forgotten.  And if you skip church on Sunday like I plan to, that you owe no one an explanation ... you can spend that time with God by taking a walk or having a picnic or curled up on the couch with a book all day until it's over... whatever you need to do to emotionally survive is fine, but I highly recommend spending some time writing a list of things you are grateful for.  It helps.

I am praying for all of the childless {and the motherless} this weekend.... it's impossible to escape the reminders all around us of what we do not have, but we must remember that God knows our hearts and that NO one truly understands the pain but Him ~ so run into His arms with gratitude for His grace and wholehearted trust in His plan that is far greater than our own.

On my knees for you...

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"When Rachel saw that she wasn’t having any children for Jacob, she became jealous of her sister. She pleaded with Jacob, 

'Give me children, or I’ll die!'"

~Genesis 30:1

"I often think of the Bible women who endured the pain of barrenness: Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth. They lived in a culture that defined their worth by the children they bore. We take comfort in their stories of faithfulness. But, infertile women long for a present-day empathetic friend who will listen and share their grief.

So this Mother’s Day, look around your church. Sitting in a chair or pew is a hurting woman who wants to celebrate the day, but is struggling with the pain of infertility. If you are a mother, it is a day to celebrate and be honored. But in your time of celebration and giving thanks to God for the blessings of your children, whisper a prayer for the other women - those with empty arms because of infertility, miscarriage, abortion, and even death. They are suffering their own private pain. Don’t offer platitudes, pity, or answers. Instead, offer yourself as a source of comfort and prayer.

Encourage your pastor to remember the women in the congregation who want to mother and see no evidence of this happening. A simple prayer or spoken word helps those who are child-free know they have not been forgotten.God sees their grief and so do we."

from "Mother's Day: A Painful Reminder of Infertility"