By: Carissa Lovvorn
As I walked into the sterile room of the rehab facility, I locked eyes with my grandmother. A smile spread across her face as she realized I had come for a visit.
“Hey, Carissa,” she exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you today!”
I pulled up a chair beside her bed to get closer. I reached for her hand and talked with her until she eventually drifted off to sleep. With it still firmly clasped in mine, I didn’t dare move for fear of waking her. I sat there, gently stroking her frail skin, thinking back on all our years together and how much her hand resembled my own.
I’ve learned so much from her. Practical things, like how to crochet, paint, sing, and make her secret recipe fudge, readily come to mind. More importantly, she’s shown me how to be a wife through sickness and health, how to give selflessly through service and ministry, and how to love the Lord without fear of rejection from others.
She has helped shape my definition of a mother and the type of mother I strive to be.
According to Merriam-Webster, the verb mother means “to give rise to,” “to produce,” or “to care for tenderly and nurture.”
The Bible provides us with key aspects of the role of mothers. They are called to be nurturing, teachers of wisdom, reflections of the image of God, faithful, and willing to sacrifice for their families.
The Bible also offers wonderful examples: Sarah, who represented God’s promise through her hope; Hannah, a mother who prayed fervently for her child; Timothy’s mother and grandmother, whom Paul praised for passing on their faith; and Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose obedience and devotion helped raise the One who would fulfill God’s plan for the world.
Motherhood is a sacred ministry. One that is not confined to the relationship between a biological mother and child. It can come in the form of a grandmother, sister, aunt, stepmother, mother-in-law, spiritual mother, friend, or even a female mentor. As women, we have the privilege to learn from other mothers while nurturing future generations.
I know Mother’s Day can be difficult. The loss of a mother figure weighs heavily on that day. Some deal with the absence of a mother due to death or abandonment, while others deal with infertility or the loss of a child. So many emotions are tied to the role of mothers in our lives. I have my own share of sadness surrounding the day. However, this year, I’m determined to focus on the blessings. I plan to remember and honor all those who have helped shape my life.
Only God knows how long I will be able to hold my grandmother’s hand, but that special moment is forever etched into my heart.
I would like to wish my grandmother and all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day.
May we never overlook the love found in a mother’s hand, and may we learn to carry that love forward—into every life we are blessed to touch.
Blessings,
Carissa Lovvorn
