May 10 Martha's Musings

Today we celebrate Mothers, in all their various forms. We celebrate birth mothers, adoptive mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers who morphed back into mothers, mothers-in-law, regular grandmothers and great-grandmothers, and those who have no biological children, but who have been influential in the lives of so many people. And if by God’s grace, some of the young people in our church will one day receive the gift of motherhood, then we are all so richly blessed. We are also richly responsible for being sure that we do our very best to show them the glory of God. It is not only the Pastor or the Sunday School teacher who bears this responsibility. If you recall the words you spoke at any Baptism, you should recall that you pledged to “so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in a way that leads to life eternal.” (The Methodist Hymnal) These words are for the congregation, not the parents or sponsors.

These are the words that WE are asked to adhere to. This promise is a holy one and should be taken seriously. It is also a gift; one we should never take for granted. Thanks be to God for the many ways we have been given to parent these special children that come into our lives, biologically or socially. They are all a blessing, and they all matter.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team