Brave

 Love God, all you saints;
God takes care of all who stay close to him,

But he pays back in full
those arrogant enough to go it alone.

Be brave. Be strong. Don’t give up.
Expect God to get here soon.

Psalm 31: 23-24 (MSG)

A particular holiday can either be joyous and celebratory or evoke emotions of grief and heartache. Mother’s Day is no different.

Some will see hearts, flowers, unicorns, and rainbows while spending a peaceful day with family. There might be tea, brunch, or even breakfast in bed. Motherhood will be celebrated.

But for others the day will be shadowed by infertility struggles, the recent loss of a matriarch, or abandonment by the children they long to love. Motherhood will be grieved.

Maybe some will fear torn between the two worlds.

I was listening to the song You Make Me Brave recently thinking about how mothers (and women who long to be mothers) are the bravest people I know.

While our insecurities often cause us to be judgmental and divisive, if we focus on what we have in common rather than what divides us, we will all realize that we’re just women trying to be brave.

You Make Me Brave

by Amanda Cook, Bethel Music

I stand before You now
The greatness of your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of you
King of Heaven, in humility, I bow

As Your love, in wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You made a way for all to enter in

I have heard You calling my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So I will let You draw me out beyond the shore
Into Your grace
Your grace

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made
You make me brave
You make me brave
You call me out beyond the shore into the waves
You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now the promises you made