Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17

The cries of a mother’s heart usually begin while the little one is yet in her womb. Not only does she speak to the tiny being in her womb, she also sings, and dreams of what might be.

The cries of a mother’s heart go up to the one, Creator God, who has favored her to bring the tiny one, most precious, into being. Her first cries are for first for gratitude for this special gift, that she might be the best mom, who would nurture her little one and bring them up under the admonition of his word, then their health, and protection from all harm.

Once they have arrived, life gets busy, but her cries do not stop. She simply goes about her days trying to be, and to do all it takes to love, nurse, nurture, teach, train, correct, discipline, while celebrating all of the many milestones from first words, first tooth, first steps, from kindergarten to high school graduation, and all that’s in-between.

She studies her child’s personality and uses that to tailor her interactions, and all of that to ensure she is creating the environment in which her child grows to love God, respect others, and grow up to be a fully functional adult, with the ability to critically think, live independently, and thrive.

The eighteen years arrive, and she breathes sighs of accomplishment and thanks God. But something happened during those years. She has a forever bond; her sense of wanting to see them fulfill their goals, to do good, to choose well, to exercise wisdom, to be safe, becomes the new and constant cries of her heart.

These cries of the heart go painfully deeper. She recognizes that she no longer controls. She cannot control the outcomes. She is now only a voice to be considered.

It is here that she learns she must release, just as a mother bird releases her baby bird to fly.

The “what ifs” are in God’s hands. In fact, they always were. She was only given guardianship for a time…

So while the cries of her heart continue, she learns that her dependence on God, the giver of that precious gift, has deepened, and that too is a gift.

Happy Mother’s Day!