The Amazing Challenges of Motherhood

1. The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

2. Happy Mother’s Day! • Keen Awareness of All of Us Here • Mothers and Not-Mothers • Biological Mothers • Adoptive Mothers • Foster Mothers • Intentional and Surprised • Glad to Be / Not to Be • Disappointed to Be / Not to Be • Spiritual Mothers The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

3. From a friend’s Facebook page: Retrieved by Mervin Charles on Sunday, Mother’s Day, May 13, 2012, from the Facebook page of JoEllen Reynolds,https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=624081915. The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

4. From a friend’s Facebook page: I wish every church would say this on Mother's Day- It sums up what I feel! To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

5. From a friend’s Facebook page: To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

6. From a friend’s Facebook page: To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is. To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

7. From a friend’s Facebook page: To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

8. From a friend’s Facebook page: To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience [and deeply grieve with you] The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

9. From a friend’s Facebook page: To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

10. From a friend’s Facebook page: And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising – we anticipate with you The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

11. From a friend’s Facebook page: This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you. The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

12. This is also expressed in this video, “Every Mom” The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church

13. Challenges Faced by Mary, Mother of Jesus • John 19:16-27 • To know of God’s destiny but be confused about today • To care deeply and passionately but be unable to stop suffering • To be near but not center-stage • To embrace but not control • To face death but not lose hope • To see it all but not grow bitter • To invest…& trust God w/ results The Amazing Challenges ofMotherhood Mt. Vernon Christian Church