A Better Love for Mother’s Day
by Annie Yorty
As Mother’s Day approaches, we pause to honor the women in our lives who have sacrificed much to raise and nurture us to become the people we are today. Who can administer a better love than Mom?
A Mother’s Confession
Don’t judge me too harshly. I once forgot my child.
How’s that for a Mother’s Day confession? We had recently moved to a new home in a new state, and I joined a daytime women’s Bible study. They offered childcare, and I gratefully surrendered my active eighteen-month-old to their willing arms.
At the end of the hour, I chatted with a new friend as we headed through the double glass exit doors. I reached the bottom of the stairs. Something felt off. My steps faltered as I pondered.
When it finally hit me, I admitted with chagrin I had to go back inside to retrieve my son. Talk about a great first impression!
A High Standard of Love
In the book of Isaiah, God holds up a mother’s devotion as perhaps the highest human form of love.
Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? (Isaiah 49:15a)
God hardwired the mother-child bond so it can never be completely broken. Hormones released at the time of birth irrevocably connect a mother and her child. Especially during the time of nursing, a mother’s own body physically reminds her of her child’s needs.
Forgotten Children
We all know sin clouds even the best version of love we can muster.
As a prior foster mom, I’ve known some children whose mothers abandoned them. No human can fill the gaping hole in their hearts. These kids grow up with a deficit that influences every relationship. In these situations, God often brings along another person to bridge the gap. But some children may not be able to accept the love of a human substitute.
Imperfect Mother Love
Many have moms who did not forget, but they were imperfect in their expression of love. If you’ve ever been a mom or had a mom, you know all mothers fail.
As a mother, I’ve tried my best. Yet, at times I have abandoned my kids’ needs. I’ve found myself so set on my plan I did not attend to their subtle cries for help. Sometimes I was self-centered. I’m sorry to say my words occasionally flew like darts into the hearts of my kids.
Maybe you have a few needs that were abandoned by your own mom. I hope by now they have healed and only scars remain. But perhaps some of the wounds still fester.
Do you have needs that were abandoned by your mom? Perhaps some of the wounds still fester. Click To TweetA Better Love
While God holds up a mother’s love as a model, He recognizes moms falter. Some even forget. Yet we’re never abandoned.
But even if that [a mother forgetting] were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands. (Isaiah 49:16a NLT).
Have you ever gripped something in your hand so tightly it left an imprint? I’ve heard this is the idea conveyed when God says your name is written, or engraved, on the palms of His hands. His love holds you so tightly you’ve made a lasting impression He will never forget or ignore.
God holds even the most abandoned and forgotten child. No one is too far gone. I’ve seen His love heal deep wounds no human love can touch.
Will you expose your own wounds to His tender care?
4 Suggestions for a Better Love for Mother’s Day
As you consider Mother’s Day this week, I have four simple suggestions for a better love.
- If your mom is still around, hug and love on her. Let her know you appreciate her care for you.
- If you still feel hurt by your mom in any way, forgive. Allow God to heal your wounds by exposing them to the light of truth. You can do this even if your mom has died.
- If you are a mom, trust God’s grace to cover your mistakes and help you to imitate Him in parenting.
- Most of all, thank God for His unfailing love that fills in all the parenting gaps to make us whole.
Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow moms! God uses your mother-love to make the world a better place.
Join the conversation:
Would you share the best thing your mom (or someone who acted in place of your mom) has given you?
I welcome your comments!
Copyright ©2023 Annie Yorty
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18 Comments
J.D. Wininger
Forgive me for chuckling in the beginning Ms. Annie, but I love your writing ma’am, and I could see the chagrin on your face as you were re-entering that building. Been there, done that my friend. Not with a child, but oh, how many times I have to stop, get out of the vehicle, unlock the door, and go back in the house to retrieve something. Ms. Diane and I have a running dialog about it when we start to pull out of the garage. “Wallet? Weapon? Hearing Aids? Bible? Pen? Okay, we can proceed.” LOL Oh, how I loved this imperfect view of parenthood today my friend. I think most of us want to remember our mama’s as “perfect” or “close to it”, and your reminder that we parents/grandparents aren’t always as perfect as our children think we are is a great reminder for every Christian. We are never so perfect as we might think. 🙂 God’s blessings ma’am.
Annie Yorty
Laughter is good medicine, so I’m glad I could add some to your day, J.D. God keeps me humble. By the way, I love the 2nd item on your list–weapon! Thanks for adding your thoughts to the conversation.
Nancy E. Head
I’m thankful for the way my kids have forgiven my failings and pray that they will be healed and whole despite my stumblings.
We’re all wounded in some way, some more seriously than others.
Thanks for this important message, Annie. God bless!
Annie Yorty
Same here, Nancy. We all need a Savior, and I’m so thankful for Jesus. Blessings to you!
Katherine Pasour
You are brave to share your moment of forgetfulness, but if we’re honest, we’ve all had those distracted moments when we forgot something in regard to our children. Your suggestions for a “Better Love for Mother’s Day” are right on target and we can use those guidelines on a daily basis (even when it isn’t Mother’s Day). Happy Mother’s Day, Annie.
Annie Yorty
Well, Katherine, I try to keep it real. It was definitely one of those memorable, embarrassing moments. My sweet boy was none the wiser. But I’ve made many other errors my kids know about. I’m grateful for the grace of God. Happy Mom’s Day to you too!
Barbara Latta
Thanks for this post, Annie. I’m so thankful God is patient with me as a mother because I have failed so many times. Happy Mothers Day to you!
Annie Yorty
Me too, Barbara. We can both trust God with our mistakes. He is faithful! Happy Mother’s Day to you too!
Jen Knight
I lost my son at Disney World. I thought he was with his dad and he thought he was with me. Fortunately it did not take too long to find him. It’s so scary. It is interesting how an adopted child always seems to have that missing connection. Thank you for this beautiful post.
Annie Yorty
That would have scared the wits out of me, Jen. I’m sure you’ll never forget that feeling. I thank God for the example of mother’s love that mimics His own, albeit imperfectly. Thanks for visiting!
Candyce Carden
This is great. All mothers falter; some of my largest regrets are mistakes I made when growing my children. Although God’s grace has assured me He didn’t expect me to be perfect but to do the best I could, I still feel regret. I work on forgiving myself.
Thank you for this thoughtful, well-written piece.
Annie Yorty
I understand, Candyce. We tend to think of the what-ifs, as if we control the outcomes. Keep allowing God’s grace to flood your vision of your mothering. Blessings to you!
Yvonne Morgan
Such an important message Annie. We can strive to do our best as moms but we will never be perfect. I made sure to tell my daughters this message and ask for their forgiveness for when I failed.
Annie Yorty
Thanks, Yvonne, for visiting. So many parents think it’s improper to ask for forgiveness from their children when they’ve done the wrong thing, but that’s exactly what we need to do. It’s a wonderful model for them so they know what to do when they mess up.
Debbie Wilson
Annie, on Sunday my husband and I took different cars to church. We got home and neither of us had our son. We each thought the other had him. We zipped back to church and found him standing on the sidewalk with the pastor. :-0 Being a parent is a course in humility.
Annie Yorty
I’m chuckling out loud as I read this, Debbie. It’s a wonder our kids live through our mistakes. God is good!
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