Mother's Day Alone

Mother’s Day Alone

Ray, my husband, had wanted to move south for years. I resisted him for years. As a woman with a high maternal sense, I wanted to stay near my family. But I heard the “still quiet voice of the Lord” saying to “go.” Ray pushed for Florida. I pushed to stay in Ohio. We compromised on Charlotte, NC.

Many times I’ve told new friends that if they look closely they could see two little heel marks all the way down Route 77 – evidence of my being dragged to the Carolinas. Don’t misunderstand. I love living in Charlotte. I’ve found a wonderful church. I’ve made wonderful friends and I’ve found my niche in woman’s ministry. But I was content where I grew up. It’s difficult to start over again. Many of our holidays are spent traveling to family in Ohio, or waiting for them to come here. But that’s just the big holidays. Small holidays are a different story. We’re often alone.

As Mother’s Day 2002 approached I knew I was going to be without any of my four children or my mother.  I was planning a full-blown pity party. Why did we have to move south anyway? Yes, the weather was much better. Yes, Ray had a better job. But my children were elsewhere. How could I be content here without the kids or grandkids? “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”1Timothy 6:6 NIV But how do you make yourself be content? How do you put away your mothering feelings after so many years? My youngest was in college (in Ohio). My oldest was married with two children  (in Ohio). The two middle sons and two more grandchildren lived on California. I’d been a mother for 32 years so how was I to act now?  I knew I was where God wanted me to be but I was still so lonely for that mother/child bond.

I remembered the scripture that God had shown me on the day I left for Charlotte. As I traveled alone with my dog, driving 500 miles to join Ray I rehearsed it until it was memorized. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NIV But I was discouraged. So I prayed. “Oh, Lord, please let one of the neighborhood children remember me for Mother’s Day.” I told no one of my prayer.

Ray was very sweet. He knew this was hard for me. I told him not to buy me a big gift for the day. He had been very generous on Valentine’s Day and so I told him that all I wanted was a single rose.

The night before Mother’s Day the doorbell rang. I opened the door to find my sweet little neighbor Alyssa standing in front of me looking very shy. She pulled a single rose from behind her back and said “Happy Mother’s Day Miss Jill.”

It was a Happy Mother’s Day. I was not discouraged at living in the Carolinas. I reveled in the fact that I was where God wanted me and I knew that day that I have a God who fulfills all my needs “according to all his riches in glory.” He even fulfills my need for a child to remember me on Mother’s Day.

Thank you Lord for loving me and for little Alyssa Cunningham, too.