Celebrating Women
I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. -II Timothy 1:3-5
“I have 273 children.” That’s what I shared with the Middle School kids the other day. They didn’t believe me at first… then one of the girls said, “Oh, she’s counting all of us!” She was correct. I don’t actually know how many “children” I have?! After 22 years of ordained ministry, and many years before that as a youth volunteer… it might be closer to 2,000 “spiritual children” that God has shared with me.
Paul encouraged Timothy to foster that “sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice…” (II Timothy 1:5). Leaving a legacy of faith like the family of Timothy is the desire of our hearts. For most of my ministry, I didn’t have any adopted or biological children to share a legacy of faith. Sometimes our biological family doesn’t seem to welcome that teaching and example? God provides “spiritual children” in our lives when we are willing to care for all God’s children as if they were our “own”.
Who are the people who were spiritual mothers and fathers in your life? How can you honor that legacy and pass the good news on to the next generation? In this way, we will all have thousands of God’s children who call us “mother” and “father” in the faith.
Loving God, on this day set aside in our nation to praise mothers and motherhood, help us to give thanks to you for our mothers and for those who have been like mothers to us.
Rejoice with us for all those, male and female, older and younger, who have shown us your tender grace, mercy, and love. Support all who have entered into the joyous calling of motherhood, especially those who raise children alone or in the face of great trial. Do not let us forget about those who might feel left out on this day: those who do not know their mothers, those whose mothers are far away or have died, those mothers whose children are far away or have died, those who do not or cannot know the joy of children and motherhood.
Help all your people to know the gift of a mother’s love in and through whatever manifestation you offer it, and continue to show us your love through all who are mothers to us. Amen.
