Those I Missed

Lately, I’ve wanted to spend more time focusing on Mamas. I hope the focus helped you notice her.

One of the things I love is when you give me ideas, or help me grow in my knowledge of the world and love of God. 

I remember when I got my Master in Theology, I thought: What an oxymoron. I’m a master of the study of God. All it’s taught me is I have much, much to learn about this unbelievable God.

So you and I are doing just that: together, learning more about God. What’s God like? What does God care about? What does God want from me, or for me? How can I relate to God more in this one life to live?

I want to thank a couple of you who gently corrected me or drew my attention to increased ways of considering, seeing, and describing very personal experiences of children and motherhood:  

One of you sent an email in response to one of my recent devotional:

“I so appreciated how you made a concerted effort to not just casually see, but actually acknowledge moms who are living in all sorts of circumstances. It was so nice to be seen. 

I also wanted to share something that has become increasingly important to me since Ivy’s birth, and that is the use of person-first language. When we discuss Ivy, or anyone with a disability, we are intentional about using person-first language. She is a child with a disability, a child with Down Syndrome. As a family, and for many within the world of disability, we do not refer to her as a disabled child, or a Down Syndrome kid, etc. By avoiding that kind of language, we emphasize her value as a person first, fully created in the image of a loving God.” 

This loving mother in my community spoke truth to me with gentleness—and she is bang on. Ivy, and any other child with a disability, is foremost a child…who has a disability. Not just a disabled child. I so appreciate this mother.

Then, from another beautiful mother in our community regarding the same devotional:

“I just wanted you to know that I loved this one especially. I love your heart. I’m believing with you.

And I am sensitive to those who mother other people’s children, who might or might not long to be moms themselves. Could you mention them one day?”

And she was right, too. The struggle for women who don’t feel the longing for children is real. As is the paradox of those who deeply desire to have children, but who, for myriad reasons, cannot. Mother’s Day is, therefore, for many a painful perennial. I want to acknowledge and esteem these women in both my Facebook Live this month and here in this devotional.. I want to celebrate the woman who, regardless of whether or not she gives birth to children (or ever has children by whatever means), still chooses to nurture life in people of all ages.

And my apologies for those I missed the first time around. Thank you for your grace and kindness—which includes speaking truthfully—to be helpful to me and the world around us.

And tomorrow, I don’t want you to miss something to help you go a bit deeper into the fullness of life. My NEW online course that I prepared especially for you. Meant to Live: Six Sessions is for you to dive into life and live fully alive!