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Motherhood: More Than It Seems

Mother is defined in the dictionary as “a female parent.” While this is indeed the correct technical definition, I don’t believe it is the complete definition.

There is so much you can’t see in between those three words. There’s the day when a woman finds out she is pregnant — that she is going to be a mother. There’s the months that follow after of her womb swelling, her skin stretching, her organs moving and her bones shifting to make room within herself for her baby. Then, she spends the next 18 years split between trying to make room for her baby to go out into the world, and trying to make room for love, compassion, intellect and creativity within her child. Don’t forget about attempting to place their feet firmly on the right path.

Yet, motherhood doesn’t end when the child leaves the house. I haven’t gotten this far yet, but I’m assuming the feeling of having your heart outside your body doesn’t go away as soon as they turn 18.

Even before she conceived, Hannah wept for her child, pleading to the Lord to give her a son. In 1 Samuel, Eli believes Hannah is drunk, when in reality she is overcome with sorrow that she cannot conceive a child.

“Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice was not heard. Therefore, Eli took her to be a drunken woman. And Eli said to her, “How long will you go on being drunk? Put your wine away from you.” But Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman troubled in spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the Lord. Do not regard your servant as a worthless woman, for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation.” 1 Samuel 1:13-16

She said, ” … I am a woman troubled in spirit.” I guarantee you that most mothers you know have felt this way. No matter if their child is born or unborn, their mothers have had a troubled spirit over them. I know I have. We worry about the dangers both outside and inside of our children.

Hannah was troubled because she had not yet conceived her son, and poured out her troubles before the Lord, giving him her “anxiety and vexation.” I wonder, as an outsider to the scene, how often after Samuel was born she did the same. As she promised, she gave him over to the Lord and he served the Lord throughout his life.

I wonder, too, how often my mother fell to her knees and poured out her anxiety and vexation over me and my sister. Probably more than I could count. I know from personal experience I gave her a lot to be anxious and vexed about. I cannot account for my sister, but I’m pretty sure she’d tell you the same. Kids have a tendency of doing that. I know that from personal experience as well.

Whether you are a mother or not, you can learn a lot from this passage. We can see that God listens to us in our darkest hours, full of dread and worry. We can see even when someone like Eli might think the wrong things about us, God sees the truth.

We can also be comforted in the fact that we can pour out those feelings to the Lord. We’re not burdening him with our troubles. God is far bigger than we can dream of, and his shoulders are capable of carrying all those doubts, worries and issues we are carrying on behalf of ourselves and our families.

After Hannah left the temple, her husband knew her and she conceived a son.

“They rose early in the morning and worshipped before the Lord; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said, ‘I have asked for him from the Lord.'” 1 Samuel 1:19-20.

The Lord remembered Hannah during her time of need — the Lord doesn’t forget those who call upon his name. We can all take comfort in this. Even if circumstances don’t turn out the way we thought they would, or in the way we thought they should, the Lord remembers us and hears us.

Friends, let us turn to the Father and cast our cares on him. He’s waiting, and he remembers — he didn’t forget you.

Also, take a moment to call your mom and tell her not to worry and that you love her. Heaven knows she’d probably appreciate it.

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