Now, if you are post abortive that title probably made you cringe. The day is approaching and most likely, you have already been thinking about it for weeks. The cards are out and the Mother’s Day gifts are on the store shelves. There is no escaping it.
For me, this day used to be torture. I can remember one in particular were I spent the day walking around with my two young sons in a stroller crying, trying to stay away from all that would remind me of my child that was not there.
Years later at church, it really got to me…”All Mothers stand up for a blessing”…I remember being mortified. How can I receive a blessing after what I had done? I don’t deserve one, and yet, if I don’t stand up they may figure out that I aborted a baby, or, as someone I know who is post abortive has no children said to me, “I remember feeling badly about having to sit down”. No matter what the circumstances, there is no denying the pain.
Of course, no one who knows about the abortion mentions it. You are left to think you are the only one remembering. As with many other days you try to go on with a semblance of normalcy, but inside your heart is breaking. That is why years later at the Entering Canaan ministry, I decided to meet it head on.
At that time I was still working with the Sisters of Life in the women's ministry in New York. For our monthly “Gathering” (post abortion group), we decided to buy each women a white rose with a tag attached that said “Happy Mothers Day Mom…I miss you, see you in heaven”.
The Sisters were understandably nervous…was I sure this was ok? Aren’t we bringing up the pain? “No” I assured them…the pain is already there…we are only acknowledging it and giving them permission to express it.
One by one the women entered and received their rose. Not one woman was sorry to get it. In fact, it was beautiful. Amid tears, and prayers, and yes, even smiles, each expressed the meaning to them. Their children were real, and so was their motherhood.
We may not be able to hold the physical bodies of our children on earth, but we hold the spiritual and emotional ties deep in our hearts. By acknowledging our motherhood we acknowledge our love for them making them part of our family, separated by space but joined forever by grace and love.
Happy Mother’s Day! – Theresa
