Mothering Sunday Musings.

Here in the UK we have been celebrating Mothering Sunday. Card manufacturers have made an enormous fortune, restaurants have put their prices up for the occasion and schools have made sure that all children have made a suitable card to give their mums on this special day.

Here at Rectory Towers the mother of the house,(That's me!) has done very nicely thank you. No breakfast in bed sadly but that's because I was up at the crack of dawn worrying about the service I was leading and putting on the old slap so that nobody would see my worry lines and know that I had lost all my notes!!!

Anyway, I received lovely cards, all hand made, so stick that in your pipe Mr. Hallmark! Lunch was great...I cooked it but the kids washed up, dried up and put away. Marvellous. The vicar that lives here organised flowers and a lovely teddy bear for me from the children so I was well chuffed.

Church, despite me losing my notes, went really well...even if I say so myself. I must confess Mothering Sunday is not the easiest service to lead. Yes, there is so much to be thankful for, IF our relationships with our mothers are good and, praise God the vast majority of us (myself included) do have good relationships with our mothers. But what of those for whom family relationships are hard and painful or filled with sadness for whatever reasons?

I worry that it is too easy to come out with trite sayings, to gloss over people's pain and not acknowledge it. Jesus never did that. He met people where they were and continues to meet us where we are, to walk with us in whatever circumstances and situations we find ourselves in.

Our identity is in Him, as His children, belonging to Him and being members of His family and sometimes, indeed often, it takes us all of our lives to begin to have some understanding of what belonging to Him means. It can be a long, slow process but through it we find freedom and hope and healing.

Well, I'm off to bed with my new "Best Mum" teddy bear to cuddle. My children have done me proud today and I love them with every breath of my being. I'm just hugely relieved that when my youngest told the assembled congregation that I snuggle her up in bed she did not, as she often does, remark that it's good because I'm fat and squidgy. Huzzah!!!!!!

Love,

Rachel.