I was secretly dreading Mother’s Day. Actually I refused to even think about it. Planning my daughter’s wedding that same weekend, I couldn’t possibly look beyond the toasts and speeches. Up until that year, I’d always looked forward to Mother’s Day. Who doesn’t enjoy being pampered and spoiled and appreciated? Sketchy breakfasts and homemade cards presented by pudgy hands are the absolute best! But kids grow up, and mothers clutch their hearts as they watch the rhythms of time march to an ever-changing beat—yet still Mother’s Day merrily rolls around…

In North America, as our littles morph into teens and then fly away to distant pastures to follow their dreams in academia, we still have the saving grace that Mother’s Day falls in May, when they are safely back in the nest. But I knew the year would arrive when my daughter would no longer be able to fly home.

She was graduating Uni and getting married all at the same time on the other side of the country (that’s a whole other article!) The destination wedding would take place in Montreal in May—the day before Mother’s Day. My selfish, woe-is-me mommy-thoughts? It would be my first Mother’s Day without her and I would still be shaking the stray confetti from my hair.

What I hadn’t considered was the fact that I’m not only a mother, but a daughter, too. I have a Heavenly Father who loves me and knows me, and is able to pull me from my pit of doom and turn a situation on its head. He’s amazing like that.

“Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;  all the stages of my life were spread out before you,

The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139:16 (The Message)

Of course He knows me—I’m a complete and utter open book to my Father, just as you are. He knows I tend to build a rather elegant-yet-solid wall around my emotional self most of the time. He also knew this would be a tough weekend, even in its jubilant celebration. Oh, how I love that He knows…

 “…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8

Waking up on that Mother’s Day morning after the most spectacular wedding I have ever attended (I might be slightly biased), I looked forward to spending the day with my husband and two fantastic sons while bracing myself for the fresh wound of “daughter-loss”. Forgive the melodramatics.

As we met up in the lobby of the hotel (destination wedding, remember) with other family members, we realized how special this actually was—both my mother and my husband’s mother had flown in for the wedding from the UK, so we would be celebrating Mother’s Day in abundance! It ended up being a unique day filled with delectable food and touristy fun as the wedding euphoria lingered. Plus there were three very happy mothers soaking in some precious memories. I will never forget it.

God is good, isn’t He? He knows us in such intimate detail. He knew that my heart was in danger of shattering just a little that magical weekend, so He showered me with breathtaking love from my family, that my heart might overflow with gratitude.

 A grateful heart changes a perspective like nothing else.

My moment of revelation? When I realized Mother’s Day wasn’t all about self-centered me. Shocking, I know! In my naval gazing stupor, I could easily have forgotten the fact that this was a day to celebrate my own wonderful mother and mother-in-law. But God lifted my eyes and my heart, allowing His light to rush in and fill any looming dark spots.

How about you, friend? Is Mother’s Day tough for you? Does it bring blessings and bliss or sorrow and stress? Won’t you rest in the knowledge that God knows? His Father heart knows your joy and your pain. He covers You with His love through it all.

And when we lift our (sometimes tear-filled) eyes to fix our gaze on Him, we remember that whether we are mothers or not, we are indeed daughters. Cherished. Celebrated. Daughters of the King.

Counting my blessings,

P.S. Here’s the marriage book I wrote and presented to my daughter on her wedding day… it’s especially for newlyweds and brides-to-be  from a mother’s perspective. Details HERE 🙂

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