A Mother's Day Talk

My sister spoke in church today and after I read it I wanted to share it with everyone. 

A Mother’s Day Talk

By

Madison Waters

I don’t know who came up with the idea of Mother’s Day because near as I can tell, Mother’s don’t seem to like it very much.  My Mom doesn’t care for it.  My Grandmother doesn’t care for it.  My other Grandmother doesn’t care for it.  And, if this trend continues, I suppose I won’t care for it. 

 Over the years I’ve quietly listened to adult conversations (which by the way, some might call it eavesdropping but it totally wasn’t, they were talking within earshot of me and I didn’t have any choice but to listen because that is what ears do).  As I’ve listened, I think the reason for the general distaste for the day happens because we all tend to not see the good that we do and that we are.  When we look at our own lives we tend to slide past the good stuff and remember the bad stuff really, really well.

Then there are the unfulfilled expectations that we all carry around with us.  There are those women who would like to be mothers but can’t.  There are those who are mothers but their children have made choices that they wish were different.  There are those who would like to be married so they could be mothers but the opportunity hasn’t happened.  There are those who made choices early in their lives that can haunt them on Mother’s Day.  I know women in most of those categories and I’m sure there are some other categories that I’ve missed.

Let me tell you about one of those categories that has affected our family.  Some of you know that my oldest sister got pregnant when she was a teenager.  After a lot of soul searching she made the decision to go to LDS Family Services and allow a couple that were unable to have children to adopt her son.  This was a beautifully difficult decision and experience.

We met that family and they came to the hospital the day after the baby was born – they were absolutely incredible.  The day the adoption took place my Dad and the new adoptive Dad gave that little boy (his name is Jensen) a blessing.  There were many tears that day and I know that Mother’s Day can be a difficult time for my sister.  However, I have also heard my sister talking about the experience and she has received a sure confirmation that Jensen is exactly where the Lord would have him.  She receives regular letters and pictures from the adoptive family that continue to confirm her decision – both the adoptive Mom and my sister’s lives are being blessed.  It is amazing to me how the Lord can work a difficult situation into something that is incredible.

What I have learned from this and other experiences is that trust and faith in the Lord are what help us in any and all situations … whether those situations be difficult or wonderful.  Faith in Christ is the key to finding meaning and hope in this world – it can even help endure some of the annual challenges of Mother’s Day. 

The wonderful part of Mother’s Day for me is the reminder of just how much my Mom does for me and for my family.  I’m grateful for her example.  And I’m grateful for Christ and his atonement that can, if we open up to Him, heighten the wonderful feelings and uplift the difficult ones.