Breaking through the silence of Mother's Day

There is going to be silence in some households this Mother's Day.

There will be no cards. There will be no flowers. Finger-painted pictures of dogs, houses and flowers will not prominently grace the refrigerator.

For these homes, Sunday will come as any other Sunday. Coffee will be brewed and sipped. The morning paper will be skimmed. Church will be attended. Lunch will be served.

In these homes, the sounds of silence is what will be heard.

Many women have found that motherhood is an elite and elusive club.

They are on the giving end of Mother's Day cards but never the receiving. Membership in this club does not define them as a woman, but every second Sunday in May they are reminded of inability that has become defining.

For many homes, Mother's Day is not a day of celebration but a day of ordinary. In these homes, Mom was unavailable. A tragic car accident or terminal cancer unexpectedly cut mom's life short. Or worse, she made a willful decision that motherhood was too hard and not for her and abandoned her position.

For some, this Mother's Day will be the first without Mom. No matter what your age, Mom is still Mom. This year, every commercial, every store ad, and the aisles of card displays have served as a reminder that there is no reason to buy a Mother's Day card this year.

There will be silence in some homes this Mother's Day.

God is able to break through that silence to hear our broken and wounded hearts.

He heard Hannah mourn through the barrenness of her womb. He heard the voice of David as he lifted up his depressed soul. He hears your silent cry.

Psalm 69:29 reads, "I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!"

Out of the silence of Mother's Day, or any day, God listens. The Lord is available to hear your wounded heart. He is available to deliver out of that affliction. He is able to set you on high no matter how low you feel.

Love God, work hard, rest well.

Rob Hurtgen is a husband, father and serves as the associate pastor at the First Baptist Church in Jackson.