A mother’s love
About a month ago, on warm and sunny spring day on my favorite walking trail, peace was not present.
Typically, not only do I benefit from the exercise I experience walking the hills and valleys of this nature trail, I am usually gifted with peace, relaxation, and stress relief.
This day was different.
When I arrived, I could hear the crying as soon as I pulled into the parking lot. As I exited the car, the mournful wailing was even louder.
Mothers parted from their children.
Mother cows separated from their calves. Most of an entire herd of Angus cows raced back and forth across the pasture, searching for their half-grown calves who had been taken away. Their cries echoed through the warm spring day, but their calls went unanswered.
In the background of this picture are distraught mothers, trotting from one side of the pasture to the other, while a few cows watch their comrades in confusion or take moments to graze. Just a few short months before, the pasture was filled with baby calves and loving mothers. Now the calves are gone, and mothers remain, their sorrowful calls overwhelming all other sounds.
A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Jeremiah 31:15
God created mothers with a deep, abiding love for their children. The animal kingdom and the human race share this amazing love for their offspring. Mothers will do whatever possible to protect their children, even sacrificing their own lives to save their babies.
We aren’t all mothers, but we all had a mother. On this Mother’s Day and during the month of May, I hope and pray we can all reach out to mothers (our own, if blessed that she is still living) and to other mothers or special women in our lives. Let’s thank these precious women for the gift of their love and faith.
What can we do to thank mothers and other dear women in our lives?
- Send a card.
- Take a special woman out to eat (or bring a home cooked meal or take-out) and eat with them.
- Send flowers or bring a bouquet of spring flowers from your garden.
- Share a book or gift.
- Call or visit just to chat a while.
- Pray for the special women in your life.
- (If you have other suggestions, please share in a comment below).
If we are blessed to still have the joy of our mother’s presence on Earth, let’s tell her! If our mother is with Jesus, the best way to honor our mother’s love for us, is to share love with others.
For those who don’t (or did not in the past) have a good relationship with your mother, I pray for you. If possible, reach out to them in loving reconciliation. Again, if your mother is gone to be with Jesus, consider honoring other mothers or women who hold a special place in your heart.
Treat older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity. (1 Timothy 5:2)
In May (and all year), we can share, with others, love as a mother does, as Jesus does–unconditional love.
And I hope we won’t forget the special men in our lives.
Honor your father and your mother, so that you many live long in the land the LORD you God is giving you.
Exodus 20:12
Because I love flowers, I want to share this with you. These are miniature irises, an older variety shared with me by my mother, whose mother shared with her. Their loveliness is a blessing and a beautiful memory of my mother and grandmother’s loving goodness to me and others.
Wishing you a blessed Mother’s Day and sending a pray that we may all share love with one another. Each tiny step we take toward love and reconciliation starts a ripple effect which spreads love elsewhere.
I am blessed to still have my mother, even though she is physically slowing down. Mom & Dad are both in their eighties. I don’t live close by, but try to get back home as often as I can. Thanks for the reminder to love them not just today, but through out the entire time we have them with us!
You are blessed, Ben, and I’m happy for you. I’ve been missing both my parents for over twenty years. I look forward to seeing them together in Heaven. Wishing you many more years here with yours. Hope you have a great week,!
Perhaps there’s no sound more sorrow-filled than that of a mama cow, or her calf, at weaning time. Here at the Cross-Dubya, I practice shared fence weaning wherein mama and baby can see one another, console the other, but not nurse. While this reduces the stress of weaning (separation), it doesn’t eliminate it. I liken it to when a mama drops her child off for their first day of school. You are so right, a mama’s love never leaves us and when we’re physically separated from it we long for it so. What peace comes from knowing that while my mom is awaiting me in glory, the separation is only temporary. One day, we’ll stand together as we worship God once again. So much to love about this post Ms. Katherine. Thank you ma’am.
I love the way you allow your cows to transition to the separation, easing the pain somewhat. But, I’m not surprised, my friend, that your goodness and kindness extend to your animal family as well. The analogy of dropping children off at school or daycare is a great comparison. Like you, I am thankful that our separation from our parents is only temporary. Thank you, J.D., for sharing your love and care with your animals and with us who receive a great blessing from knowing you.
Oh my for the bawling. Our cows did the same, seemed to bawl until they went hoarse which showed the care and devotion. Thanks for your many kind words about mothers.
Our herd was much smaller than the one near the nature trail where I walk, but I still remember the sound of a few cows bawling and wailing for their babies. The noise of this herd was overwhelming. I’m reminded that each individual cow mourned her loss and found no comfort. How fortunate we are, as humans, to have our Father, our Savior, and the Holy Spirit to bring us comfort in our sorrow. Thank you for visiting my blog, Terry, and sharing with us. Wishing you a blessed week!
Katherine, I don’t know much about cows but that mournful wail would have touched my heart. We can identify how mother’s feel even if they are animals. I love the iris you have been able to keep from your grandmother down to you. What a blessing to have that reminder of your loving legacy.
Barbara, I know you would have been deeply saddened by the sorrow these cows were experiencing. Fortunately, cows seem to have short memories. Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the iris, passed on to me from mother and grandmother. It warms my heart and brings back precious memories to see it bloom so beautifully. May God bless you, Barbara and family.
Such a good post! Thank you so much. I love the picture, because I remember from childhood how very difficult it was to separate the mother and calf. It always broke my heart. Timely message. So grateful for a mother who loved Jesus and practiced His words.
We are so blessed when we are raised in a family that loves Jesus and shares the Fruit of the Spirit with others because of our belief in our Savior. I miss my mother every day, but I’m so thankful for the many lessons she shared with me. I pray to be more like her in her love and service to others.
I can’t help but be sad for those poor cows looking for their babies. My Mama-heart feels their pain. We carry our babies next to our hearts for nine months and that connection never goes away.
I always enjoy the pictures of your flowers and this one In particular because it holds special meaning. I have daylillies from my Dad that I consider living heirlooms and anytime they bloom I think of him.
I agree with your thoughts about a mother’s love, Terri. We share a forever bond with our children. Such a blessing our Father has given us! Thank you for sharing about your Dad’s daylilies and I hope your daylilies bloom beautifully! Share a picture?
Katherine, you painted a beautiful picture of motherhood and gave us practical steps for showing love to them. My mother and mother-in-law are in heaven, but I want to show God’s love to other mothers I know.
Thank you, Jeannie. You share your love through your ministry and your joy and life. Thank you for being an inspiration for us.
The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world. Wonderful post, Katherine! God bless!
I know that saying and it has much truth to it, although I believe the hand that rocks the cradle would seek and find peace much more than what exists in our current world situation. Thank you for your ministry, Nancy. I know you strive for peace as you help us recognize injustice. Wishing you joy and blessings.
love you– wonderful thoughts — love the iris flowers, mine got eaten by some rampant goats…..
Love you, too, my sweet girl. Next time you visit, I can share some irises with you, although I can’t do anything about the goats…
I love how God creates a special bond between mothers and babies of all species—proof of his perfectly ordered plan for sustaining creation.
This year it was such a blessing to hear from a niece and nephew on Mother’s Day. Your suggestion to remember and reach out to mothers other than our own is an excellent one.
Happy (belated) Mother’s Day, Katherine!
Thank you for your good wishes, Candyce. I’m so glad you had an extra blessing this Mother’s Day. Thank you for your writing ministry in sharing love and the Good News of our Lord with others.
You’ve expressed the beauty of mothers so well, Katherine. What an incredible privilege God has given us as mothers to raise children. Happy Mother’s Day!
You are absolutely correct, Annie–God has given us an incredible privilege when He chose us to be mothers. It’s my most wonderful blessing. And as an additional blessing, He helps us on the journey! I hope Spring is gifting you joy and peace.
Beautiful post. It made me think about how much I miss my mom. Thanks for sharing.
I miss my mom, too, Yvonne, every day. But like you, I remember the blessings and the love–precious memories. Thank you for your encouragement.
I got teary eyed thinking about the cow mommies missing their babies. May God give all of His creatures peace. Thanks for reminding us to love our moms.
That’s a wonderful prayer, Joanna, “May God give all His creatures peace. I pray with you.
Those are great suggestions for honoring and thanking our mothers! The little iris is lovely, made even more so as it’s been passed down from your grandmother and mother!
I love flowers and growing things, but it is extra special that the little yellow and maroon iris came to me from my grandmother and mother. Praying for you–for safety, peace, and rain.
For my mom she loves to be taken to the movies. You always write beautiful posts and I am sad your iris pictures will come to an end. This one is so unique. Not sure I have ever seen one with those colors.
I like going to the movies, too, but in recent years, that hasn’t been much of an option for entertainment due to the pandemic. Maybe a movie night with the family? I welcome each new flower of spring with great excitement and I’m sad when they finish showing off their beauty. It’s part of the cycle of life, I guess. Maybe that’s why spring flowers are so lovely–they don’t have long to share. Thank you for your kind encouragement.
Thankful for my mother’s love. I look forward to seeing her again one day.
What a joyful reunions there will be in Heaven!