Motherhood is a uniquely feminine experience, but it's far from “one size fits all.” On Mother’s Day, we often romanticize motherhood as a picture of endless love, patience, and sacrifice. And while those qualities are indeed part of it, the reality is much more layered. 

Motherhood can be a cherished calling for some and a deep ache for others—whether for the mother they never had, the prodigal that doesn’t come home, the child they couldn’t hold, or the dream that never came true. Today, I want to acknowledge the complexity of this day, recognizing the mix of emotions it may bring because of the broken world we live in. But take heart—God meets us in our deepest pain and greatest need, and through the cross, He can transform every experience of motherhood into something beautiful and redemptive.

At its core, motherhood is about nurturing. Not just feeding and clothing a child, but being emotionally present—guiding young lives through a world that can be confusing, overwhelming, and unforgiving. It’s found in bedtime stories, in scraped knees, in tears and tantrums, in hard conversations about friends and school—and in the many everyday acts of parenting that often go unnoticed.

But motherhood isn’t only about the child—it’s also about the mother. Becoming a mother often brings a seismic shift in priorities. Dreams may be postponed or reshaped. Yes, motherhood is often a journey of self-denial—and this is a crucial point about motherhood- if we deny ourselves only for the sake of our children, we risk losing sight of who we really are and the bigger picture of what all of us have been called to. However when we deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Jesus—and in that process serve our families in a way that mirrors His sacrifice for us, then we have understood the deeper calling of motherhood.  

Luke 9:24-25 says, "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?"

Motherhood is not the only way, but it is an important way we can live out this truth and serve Jesus.

Motherhood is also more than a biological calling. It is a spiritual and emotional calling. We can fulfill the role of motherhood without ever giving birth—by loving with a depth that transcends bloodlines. Women can mother with their comfort and with their presence. They can guide with their wisdom and nurture faith with their care. They are spiritual mothers, life-givers to the soul, and their role is no less sacred.

And it's true, motherhood is not always joyful. It can be isolating. It can be exhausting. It can be filled with questions, doubts, and moments of feeling not enough. God’s promises such as this one can especially be applied to mothers: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

In the end, motherhood is not a destination—it’s a journey, a process. It includes growth, not just for the child but for the mother as well. It’s not measured by perfection or merely biology but by presence. It’s about showing up for the children God has placed in your life day after day with love that endures even in tough times making the call of motherhood into a quiet kind of heroism.

To every woman who mothers in any form—you are seen. You are needed. And you are deeply loved.

Cheering you on!