Mother's Day

I imagined this Mother’s Day to be extra special since I now had three littles to celebrate with. It was a sweet day but not for the reasons you might think. I had spent a fair amount of time reflecting on the previous year and remembering back to last Mother’s Day when we had just met Shannell and she had chosen us to adopt Juniper. Last year was a dream a really, really, good one full of so much excitement and changes we had been wanting for years. No other year of our lives will ever compare- I’m sure of it. I’m excited for every year ahead of us but I don’t think any will pale in comparison to this one. How do you top having three babies in one year? Don’t say having 4 babies in one year ;)
As exciting as this year has been I felt funny as Mother’s Day approached. I hadn’t looked forward to this day for some time now and I kind of thought I would feel different this time around. I didn’t feel much different. My heart was heavy for the many friends and family members I know that are wanting to have kids but unable for one reason of another.
I know Mother’s Day is to celebrate women and our divine role as mothers (whether or not we have kids) but it doesn’t seem to make the day any easier, especially when you don’t have kids yet.
I spoke in church on Mother’s Day Sunday and here is a little excerpt form my talk.  

“….if today isn’t your favorite day of the year for any reason, let us shift our celebration to be about YOU,  the women God created in his own image. Celebrate you as a daughter of God, the gifts that are inherently yours and the blessing they are to all those around you.
Ebenezer
I want to shed some light on how God views his daughters. My sister shared an article with me about the word “Ezer” and its significance regarding mothers.
In first Samuel there is record of a great battle, the great and numerous philistine army was invading Israel and would have completely overtaken them if the lord didn’t intervene. Israelites pleaded with Samuel the prophet to plead with the lord. The lord intervened and the Israelite soldiers were miraculously able to defeat the philistine armies. Samuel, who had just previously called the Israelites to repentance, erected a monument and called it “eben-Ezer” or Stone of help. And proclaimed, “hitherto the Lord helped us”. In other words the army would not have prevailed without the Lord, their stone of help, their ebenezer.
In genesis 2:18 we read, “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” Some might read this verse and think that the creation of women was an afterthought, or not as important as the creation of man. That is not the case. …The original translation of “help” in hebrew is “Ezer”- the same word that was used to refer to the savior in the previous example.  
You may also recall the song, Come thou fount of every blessing and the line that proclaims, “here I raise my Ebenezer. Hither by thy help I’m come.”
Scholars trace the Hebrew word “Ezer” to a combination of two source words, one which means strength and another which refers to rescuing, saving, and defending. “Ezer” is always used in a military context (except when referring to Eve) and almost every time it is used to describe God as the Divine Helper and Protector of Israel. It is this same word that is used to describe Eve.
“Ezer”, the word used to describe Mother Eve as a “help” to Adam, has nothing to do with the role of an inferior or domestic servant. The word that is used to describe the Creator of the Universe as a savior, source of strength, and “the Helper of Israel” cannot have a demeaning implication.
In the Old Testament, the Lord is described as an “Ezer” when Israel is too weak to face its enemies alone. Other nations are described as an “Ezer” to Israel, when Israel’s strength is insufficient to defeat its enemies.
And so it is with Eve. Eve is referred to as an “Ezer” when God sees that Adam cannot do it alone.  Eve is referred to as an “ezer” because she was Adam’s first ally and friend, his partner in doing battle with evil and bringing about the purposes of God upon the Earth.
So, when you think of women picture a warrior with a drawn sword. Think of a change maker. Think of a leader because this is how God created her. 
Sisters- this is you and me! We are strong, rescuing, saving defending women- this is what God intended for us.
I look at my own mother and although she was gentle in every way she was a fierce warrior when it came to our spiritual wellbeing. She fought daily battles to keep the spirit present in our home. She continually taught us how to withstand temptation and to view ourselves as our Heavenly Father does.”
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So today I’m grateful to my mom and the example she was to me. I’m also grateful to the many wonderful and impactful woman that have been warriors for my sake. I continually aspire to be the woman God intended me to be. This is challenging in a world that belittles the divine roles of women but I am proud to stand firm and be a warrior for righteousness because that is what the world needs.
Happy Mother’s Day ladies.

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