Sometimes It's Hard to be a Woman...

  Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  A day when we celebrate mothers and grandmothers, aunts and sisters, wives and all of the special women in our lives.  But I've been thinking about a line from an old Tammy Wynette song, "sometimes it's hard to be a woman..."  That song was "Stand By Your Man" and I'm actually not thinking about philandering husbands.  I'm really thinking about how hard it can be to have a nurturing spirit and a maternal instinct.  GOD did not bless my husband and I with children, but I have nieces and nephews, godchildren and people who have come into my life and for a while been my "children".  I know many, many women who are mothers and grandmothers and aunts, and I see not just the joy, but the pain and heartache also.  In our small congregation, we have three women who have had an adult child pass in the last year, one who had a grandson pass, her sister is also in our church, who is the aunt.  There are two who nearly lost grandsons in accidents, and most of our women have had frustrating experiences with children and grandchildren.  It can be hard to be a woman!
  I myself have felt the hurt of giving of myself in a mother like way then have that person leave my life.  Some of that hurt is mingled with joy because of the time that they were in my life.  And with others, there is disappointment because of the way the relationship has ended.  And I admit, being a pastor's wife and lay pastor, I often find myself being like Deborah in the Old Testament book of Judges.  She is described as a mother to Israel.  A woman who ruled over the people of Israel and saw not only their obedience to the LORD, but also their disobedience and their turning away.  Being a mother to those in my church has not been easy, but it's nothing compared to the pain and suffering of having a child, biological or adopted, die either in infancy or youth, or as an adult.  I can't imagine what it would be like to have a child turn away and no longer want anything to do with you.  Sometimes it's hard to be a woman! 
  I thank GOD for sending His Son, JESUS, to this earth.  JESUS lived here, raised by His mother, sisters and I'm sure aunts and cousins and other women as well.  In His three years of ministry, there were several women who were included as disciples.  Although not one of the twelve, these women were important for their support and service to JESUS and to the twelve.  And we should never think that these women were some kind of "camp follower".  They sat at JESUS' feet, being taught and learning what this new Kingdom of GOD was all about.  They were being commissioned to be sent out along with the men.  JESUS knew that if the Kingdom of GOD was going to flourish, it would need the nurturing, maternal spirit of women.  It would need our insight, our mother instinct, our ability to see what men often overlook.  It would need women to teach and mentor other women--and sometimes men, too.
  In the beginning, GOD created male and female, man and woman, Adam and Eve.  Eve was created to be a helpmate, one who completed Adam.  This has been GOD's design from the very beginning--men and women need each other.  We are created differently and it takes both in harmony together.
  So on those days when it's hard to be a woman, remember that you have been created by GOD.  Our Heavenly Father celebrates you and delights over you.  If you have accepted CHRIST as your LORD and Savior then you are a co-worker with Him, and even more, you are a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  He knows how hard it can be, and how rewarding.  Whether you are a mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, a teacher, a case worker, even a student on a college campus, wherever in life you find yourself, chances are there is someone looking to you.  And there is someone that you look to.
  I am so thankful for the women in my life--my mother and sister, my friends, and all of the women in my church and in the faith community, who are also mothers and aunts and sisters to me.  I ask that GOD would continue to help me learn and grow so that I can be a better influence in their lives, and help them in their walk with JESUS.
  Happy Mother's Day!  And if this day is a difficult, hurtful one for you, my prayers go out to you.  I pray that the LORD will wrap His arms around you and surround you with His love and peace.  He treasures you and appreciates you, the woman He created.  There are many ways to be a mother in the Kingdom of GOD and many ways that GOD can use you to touch others' lives.  Go in peace, GOD's perfect shalom, and carry that peace as only a woman can!