God’s love not unlike that of a dedicated mother

Children’s death tore out significant piece of identity, she writes

Today, I celebrate my mom.

Motherhood is a noble calling, despite the tendency of our culture to undervalue its impact and reach. This Hallmark occasion can be a reflective time, and it certainly evokes a variety of emotions.

A huge shift in perspective occurred when I became a mother myself. I began to grasp how much my mom gave of herself — the dedication, hard work and sacrifice. She was purposeful in raising children of character and empathy, to be good corporate citizens devoted to family, friends, and honouring God.

Parenthood introduced a fundamental shift in my identity. Once I was wearing the title “mom,” my heart was being stretched significantly and permanently. The three little lives of my children captured a vast swath of real estate inside my heart. No longer was life just about me and my husband. My circle of concern had grown exponentially, significantly defining me.

Fast-forward to the year when our twin boys were 17 years old. The accident that took their lives was traumatic and life-altering for our family. The pain that accompanies the loss of a child is proportionate to the space he took up in a mother’s heart.

I hurt much because I loved much. As Jordan and Evan unexpectedly and abruptly exited out of our lives, it tore out a significant piece of my identity.

When it comes to protecting our kids from hurt, we are willing to go to the wall for them.

I know that if it were humanly possible, I would have died in my boys’ place in February 2016. Had I been aware of what was transpiring, I would have intervened at any personal cost.

A mom’s love can be fierce and uncompromising.

Did you know that God’s love for us is not unlike that of a dedicated mother? As imperfect and flawed as we are as moms, there are characteristics that reflect God’s heart of love toward all of us. It is love that is sacrificial, unconditional, permanent, full of grace and acceptance.

Did you know that God would “go to the wall for you?”

Actually, did you know that He already demonstrated his sacrificial love for you?

God sent His only son, Jesus, to walk this earth, to suffer a brutal death, and to rise from the dead. Jesus demonstrated God’s incredibly generous love toward us: “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13

There are many different lenses through which people see Mother’s Day.

Sadly, it can be a day for some to identify strongly with feelings of pain or failure. I think of my grandmother who was abandoned by her mother by age three, and raised in a number of abusive foster homes in the 1920s. I think of friends who have been unable to conceive.

On the other hand, there are new moms out there who feel so very overwhelmed with the responsibility of raising those little ones. Mothers need no extra assistance in the area of self-flagellation; the presence of social media has certainly created a perceived gold standard, that of which most moms feel they fall short.

More recently, I am coming to understand the heartache of being a mother whose children have passed away.

I encourage you to consider that despite the very real heartaches you may face, when full trust is placed in Jesus, He restores us from sin and gives us a new identity in Himself. He provides direct access to a relationship with God. He takes what is broken and makes us whole and complete. This identity in Jesus has the power to lift us above our pains and failures. He will fill you with His grace, love and acceptance. He will give you a peace and hope that carries you through life’s difficult circumstances.