When Mother’s Day is Difficult

Soon we’ll celebrate Mother’s Day once again. For many families, it’s a time of celebration, appreciation, and joy. But for others, it’s one of the most difficult days of the year. This is especially true for women facing infertility or those who have recently experienced the loss of a mother, daughter, or other loved one.

I know what it’s like for Mother’s Day to be difficult. My husband and I struggled with infertility for almost a decade and experienced loss along the way. While we learned to live in hope and God eventually gave us a daughter (we adopted her when she was twenty-one years old!), we still remember the hurt and how holidays could bring it to the surface.

So as Mother’s Day comes this year, I’d like to share a few thoughts from my heart to yours.

Embrace Your Emotions

First, if Mother’s Day is difficult for you then give yourself permission to grieve. When holidays come, we often put expectations on ourselves to feel a certain way. We may think, “This is a special occasion. I have to put on a happy face and make the best of it.” But it’s okay to feel sad and even cry—it’s okay to be emotional on Mother’s Day.

It’s also helpful to realize that emotions are not good or bad. They are just messengers that tell us about what’s going on in our lives. Sadness tells us, “You’ve lost something or someone important to you.” It’s not a sin to feel sad. Jesus often experienced sadness and the Bible says he was “a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” Isaiah 53:3 NIV

Many other godly people in the Bible experienced sadness and grief. In Psalm 13 King David pours out his heart to the Lord and asks, “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?” He does end by saying, “I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” Does that mean we need to go from feeling broken to blessed in just a few lines? No, absolutely not. But it does show us something important about emotions. They are meant as stops along life’s journey rather than destinations. If you continually feel sad over a lengthy period of time or it seems as if there is no hope at all, then consider getting help from a professional.

Seek Support

Read More

Holley Gerth

This 'Blessed Mom' pendant necklace complements all wardrobes. The handcrafted washer pendant, accented with a petite heart charm, makes this necklace an inspiring gift for a special mother on any occasion. Purchase Here

This lovely Willow Tree keepsake figurine is a beautiful reminder to be completely present during those special moments you have with your child, capturing all..."the weight, the scent, the feel...sharing with each other the silent vow that you will be there 'for always'." A perfect keepsake gift for moms.

Sentiment:

Now and for always, I carry you in my heart

Purchase Here