There was no one standing behind the checkout counter at the Hallmark store today. The two employees were on the floor, sitting in front of a nearly empty card rack display reminding patrons to remember Mom on Mother’s Day. When I teased them asking where the happy belated mother’s days cards were, the older of the duo sighed heavily and said, “No joke. There are probably a lot of young men who could use one.” I agreed and asked to be pointed in the right direction for graduation cards.
I long ago accepted the fact that one of my sons will probably never remember me on Mother’s Day but still have high hopes, with low expectations, each time the caller ID reads “Out of Area” on that special day. Though he is a good and loving son he just cannot seem to remember Mother’s Day. His siblings absolutely spoil me with musical cards, books, flowers, long distance visits and new kitchen counter appliances. Maybe he thinks they take care of it for him? Why is it that this one day of the year means so much to women and what is a woman to do when she is forgotten on Mother’s Day?
It seems to me, like so many other things in life, you can choose to do one of the following and bounce rather than break.
- Instead of depositing the hurt in your heart for another 364 days, letting it accrue compound bitterness, you can choose to deposit it in the healthy place I refer to as the “I can’t do anything about that” box and let it go.
- Clear the air. Though silence can often be golden when dealing with emotion nitro glycerin, it can also be good to openly and honestly confront the issue in love. But, before taking the bull by the horns, it may be wise to do a bit of self-examination. First pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of friction that may be personally attributable to you. If you discover some of the blame falls to you, seek God’s wisdom for the best way to make a fresh start.
- Do not stay at home and pout or talk-talk-talk about areas of family friction with your friends. Crying over an empty mailbox on Mother’s Day never solved anything. Get up, get dressed, put on a little lipstick and, with a healthy dose of self-esteem, get on with your Monday after Mother’s Day.
- Go shopping! You can pick up some real bargains at the “75% off Mother’s Day items” table. Use those gifts later in the year for birthdays. Just double check and make sure they don’t mention Mother anywhere!
- Turn all that negative energy around and use it to do three random acts of kindness before the sun sets. You may be just the person another hurting Mom needs on her Mother’s Day Monday.
And remember this:
- The Lord cares for you and you are loved with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 and I Peter 5:7
- Your mother, your father or your children may forsake you but God will never forsake, forget or leave you. Psalm 27:10 and Deuteronomy 31:6
- Nothing – absolutely nothing – can separate you from the love of God. Romans 8:38
- God understands your broken heart. He keeps track of your my sorrows, has collected all your tears in His bottle and has recorded each one in His book. Psalm 56:8
God loves you. He always has. He always will.
Share this “Thought From Penny” with women you know who may have been forgotten on Mother’s Day.
