Happy Belated Mother's Day

I hope all the moms out there had a wonderful day yesterday!  Even though this is one of those "Hallmark" holidays, it is a good reminder for us to recognize the women who have influenced us and be inspired to continue our own journey as moms.

So I'm sure your day went the same way mine did.  Huge homemade breakfast served in bed by adoring children and husband.  Showered with cards full of praise and adulation and mountains of gifts.  Attending church with beaming, obedient children by our sides.  Another huge family lunch once again made and served by loving family.  A long, quiet, uninterrupted nap.  Then an evening picnic in a field of flowers with family still praising your virtues and sacrifice.

Wait a minute - that's Hollywood's version.

This is real life.

Real life doesn't work that way.  And quite often our sinful hearts tell us it should and that anything less is not good enough.  We want to be recognized for our sacrifices (especially the ones no one notices) and told what a great job we are doing, that it is all worth the tears and frustrations.  We want to be praised and lifted up.

We want others to see that our family rises up and calls us blessed.

And here is the danger of Mother's Day.  Because when we don't get all that, we feel hurt and disappointed and even angry.

This isn't just about Mother's Day though - we do this through out the year.  We want rewards and praise and by golly even just a little acknowledgement would be nice!

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.  It is the Lord Christ you are serving."  Colossians 3:23, 24

God gives us children, makes us mothers to glorify Him.  NOT OURSELVES!  By being good mothers we are serving Him and we will receive our rewards, our praise, our accolades from Him.  And while our sinful hearts don't want to wait for that moment - it will be sooooo worth it.

Christ knows about sacrifice - He knows about not being recognized - He knows about being ignored.

He made the ultimate, unappreciated sacrifice for us.

So the next time you are feeling ignored, unappreciated and unrecognized, realize you are in good company.