Mother's Day

Today we stood in church to be recognized. The first time was to be recognized as mothers across the congregation. From my vantage point on stage, I watched and clapped as I pridefully joined the ranks of those, young and old, who have bore the title "mom." And just as quickly as the smile filled my face, so did the memory of mother's day 3 years ago come rushing back to me.

You see, the day was May 10, 2008. I was not standing in church. I was not recognized as a mom. I was grieving at the thought of not being able to have the right to stand. For years, I wanted that title. But it was not yet mine. It was a desire of my heart that I surrendered to the Lord - either take away the desire to have a child or bless me with one. Little did I know that the day before that mother's day, a little boy had been born.

His name was Riley Jamieson, as Sara his birthmother called him. And he was 4lb 11oz and only 18" long. He was several weeks early and she had not yet had a chance to choose his adoptive parents. On May 23, we would get that invitation to become his adoptive parents and on May 31, he would be placed in our arms.

Please know that Mother's Day is a special day to me for a number of reasons. First, I honor the legacy of my Nanny who has lead our family as a strong Christian woman, passing that down to my mom who has devoted her life to being a prayer warrior and a giant of faith. Their Godly examples have lead me to the place where I can stand, looking at a house burned and destroyed, tested by broken dreams and heartbreaks, and yet not shaken. No, their faith isn't my faith. Their faith has helped me develop and accomplish my faith. I honor those who are birthmothers who've given the right to life and the most sacrificial act of love. I honor those who are not yet mothers, but in their heart of hearts, they struggle with that desire and dream.

The scriptures and songs I cling to in these times - when facing infertility and then the road to adoption - and now facing a burnt down house and such an uncertain future - those are things that were inbred in me from the time I was born, much in part by the Godly influence of my mother. These are the same songs and scriptures I'm teaching my son.

So today, I stood. I stood to be recognized. as a mother. Probably the proudest title I bear. And then I stood beside my sister, watching her and her husband dedicate the little life of my niece to the Lord. Four generations of faith standing on stage today. Thank you, Lord, for such a heritage.