Celebrating Carefully...

I feel like today is one that comes with caution signs all around it.

Mother's Day and Father's Day have got to be two of the most difficult days for churches, in my opinion. Let's face it. Some moms are less than desirable and some dads are pretty awful. Some moms have children to hold and some moms have lost before they could hold. Some women want desperately to be moms and that dream is unfulfilled. So how do we honor? I am not sure I have that answer so I tread lightly and tenderly while I try.

Today was my Sunday to preach at our church. I didn't want to preach a traditional Mother's Day message. I didn't want to ignore the day either. After praying and listening to what others do, I decided on a plan.

About mid-late April I began pulling together a list of scriptures and questions and also made a list of women in the church who I thought would be a good representation of the many paths women are on. Unmarried, married. New mom, grand-moms. Woman with young children, woman with older children. Even those who have struggled with infertility.

Once I had that list, I sent them each a message asking them to join me on the platform for Mother's Day in a panel and answer the questions. A few were unable, some were more than willing, and some were willing but only for certain questions. No problem, I get it!

Now, in all honesty, after beginning the process I doubted myself and that this was really what God had in mind for us and almost changed directions 3 times...even as recent as yesterday (the day before!). Through various confirmations, I decided to hold to the original plan and move forward.

This morning, I was so pleased with how God orchestrated the whole thing. While I read the scripture and questions, these women brought thoughts, opinions and scripture to the table and although I did not "preach," many sermons were spoken.

Truth is, God spoke through 6 women, sitting on the platform in chairs, sharing about life, biblical womanhood, and leaving a legacy.

I am truly grateful.

Here is what I closed with:

Philippians 3:12-14

12 I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,[a] but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Paul was oriented entirely towards Jesus and the things He had called him to. He wasn’t concerned about leaving anything but a trail that led straight to Christ behind him. What do you hope to leave behind for your friends, family, to this congregation?