As I sit writing this Mother’s Day reflection, my eldest two children are playing “camping” as they eagerly anticipate our camping trip for the long weekend. My third child is still happily sleeping, and at six months pregnant, I can feel our fourth twirling around within. This beautiful moment reminds me of the true miracle God gives us in the presence of children in our lives and, as mothers, the blessing we have in the calling of a vocation to nurture human life and raise future generations with incredible selflessness.
Motherhood, I have come to know, is a journey, an ongoing journey that pulls us in all directions. It’s a journey that brings with it both highs and lows. Along the way, we can experience great joy and fulfilment, or great sorrow and grief. Every so often, we might even find ourselves needing encouragement that what we’re doing matters, or wondering what all the work is for. As mums, it can be easy to wish away one season for another, but God has given and ordained every moment in motherhood for your good and God’s glory.
Motherhood creates a unique bond between a mother and her child that is evidence of the divine gift of creation, which unites us with God in a special way. The strength of a mother’s love is present through each step of life within this ongoing journey. In times when we are left questioning our role and needing guidance, we can turn to our Blessed Mary, Mother of God, as an example — reminding us that the work we’re doing is incredibly important and valuable. Mary’s love for Jesus is a reminder to us of the tender and enduring love of a mother.
Mary’s love for Jesus was a profound, total, and selfless devotion, characterised by her unconditional “yes” to God, from the Annunciation to the Crucifixion. As Jesus’ mother, she provided nurturing maternal care and endured extreme suffering in union with His sacrifice for humanity. She is viewed as the ultimate model of love and devotion. Mary is also an example to us that God’s plan is greater than our own.
This message that God’s plan is greater than our own is one that has carried me through many moments of motherhood. When unexpected things happen, or plans do not go quite the way you had “mapped out”, it offers a humbling reminder that our lives are guided by God and that our path is greater than what we may imagine. In these moments, I have come to learn that placing my trust in God, and embracing Mary’s “yes” and her profound, selfless devotion to her role as mother, has led to many fruits — even when, at the time, the path may have seemed daunting or uncertain.
As we approach Mother’s Day, I invite you to reflect on the mothers in your life — in all the forms they may take: biological, adoptive, stepmothers, spiritual mothers, and foster mothers — and to lift them up in prayer. Mother’s Day is an opportunity to honour the women we know and love who follow the selfless example of Mary. When we stop and reflect on the women in our lives, and in the lives of others, we see representations of Mary fulfilling her dynamic role as the Blessed Mother, reflecting resilience, devotion, and strength.
May this Mother’s Day be a time when we acknowledge this and continue to be the “village” for all mothers, supporting one another in our vocations.
Sarah McGuire