By DAWN REED

Guest Columnist

I’m usually relieved after Mother’s Day is over. It’s a great day for celebrating mothers all over the world, I agree. I just feel more comfortable congratulating all of the OTHER moms. But me…not so much. I see all of the wonderful moms and feel a lot like poo in comparison. Though my kids are grown, I still remind myself of ways I messed up when they were younger. I can’t remember why I walk into another room sometimes but I can remember all kinds of ways I screwed up as a Mom!

Being a Mom is the hardest job in the world-sometimes. It sure has brought me closer to the Lord! Amazingly, that was my prayer all along. He knew just what would draw me near to Him.

I talked to a young mother on the phone last night who has two little girls. She had just gotten out of jail. She’s had a drug problem for years but had never been arrested. Being in jail really opened her eyes. Through tears, she told of her regrets…how she’d let them down over and over, that she HAD to break free from this addiction, and that she wanted a better life for her girls.

I had good words for her from the Bible about the love of Jesus; that He would always love her and would forgive her. One of her toughest jobs would be to forgive herself. (It’s really easy sometimes to share advice but not take it for yourself.) I told her that Jesus could use these difficult experiences to make her stronger. We talked about her girls, three and five. I shared how important it was for her to take them to church and help them learn about Jesus. They could all three learn together!

I have some verses that I like to share with women who already have or are praying to have children:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5 & 6

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

But as for me, I will always have hope. Psalm 71:14

Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long. Psalm 25:5

Mother’s Day is a tough day for some people. There are some women who are longing to be mothers, some are past their child bearing years and still yearn to be mothers. Mother’s Day strums broken heart strings. Some women have lost their mothers; some have lost children making it a day of deep heart ache. Sadly, there are those who were neglected by their mothers or abused by their mothers. While some women are desperate to have a baby, others have unexpected babies and are overwhelmed by responsibilities. It’s an emotional day! It’s good to know that God is still in charge even when things aren’t going according to our plans.