I Am Not A Mother, But...

             This past Sunday was Mother’s Day, a day when we celebrate those who have given birth to each of us. I am not a mother, so I always feel a little awkward on that day.  It’s not that I bemoan the fact that I never gave birth.  If I’m honest, I never envisioned carrying a child.

            Don’t get me wrong!  I still see babies as precious little beings, each with their own personality.  Of course, I also see them as “breakable” and too dangerous for me to handle.  I never had to feed or change them or endure those sleepless nights when nothing seemed to soothe them. 

            I’m not alone.  There are 1000’s of women who have never been called “Mom.”  Some of them mourn that loss as the greatest disappointment of their life.  Others never had a desire to be a Mom, and some, like me, never gave it much thought. The fact that we are not mothers does not mean that we haven’t contributed to the lives of children along the way.  Many of us are called “aunt”—some by blood relatives and others by friends’ children. 

            Along the way, we’ve had those “motherly” moments.  For me, there was the time that I learned that an 8-year-old kicks like a mule in his sleep, but I also learned that it is more frightening when he stops snoring and you are not sure if he’s alive or dead.  Then, there were the times when the teenager came to me for advice when he couldn’t quite settle an issue with his parents.  There are also the teaching moments—learning how to throw a ball or how to memorize the names of the cells in science class.  The most important moments are taking them to church and teaching them about Jesus.

            I’ve had the opportunity to do all those things and more.  The mentoring doesn’t stop when they are grown.  There are women who I have had the pleasure of teaching and leading as we study God’s Word together.  Several young people worked in my law office, giving me the opportunity to pour into their lives.

            Even if you have never given birth or adopted or raised stepchildren, you have had and will continue to have opportunities to speak into kids’ and adults’ lives.  Don’t diminish the value of those opportunities and don’t take them for granted.  I may not be a Mom, but I feel blessed to be a part of so many “kids” lives!  Don’t miss out on the blessings that God has in store for you.

Matthew 18: 5, 6

Psalm 71: 8

Proverbs 9:9

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