A Mother''s Day Promise
As the doctor entered the cold, sterile examining room, I wondered how many more times I would hear him say, "Maybe next month." Having reached my early thirties and after nine years of eagerly anticipating motherhood, my desperation melted into tears as I tried to explain that I wanted a baby more than anything else in the world. When I was a small girl playing with dolls, never had I anticipated growing up to face the loneliness of empty arms that only a live baby doll can fill.
Dan, my patient husband, suggested that maybe we should put our name on an adoption waiting list. Years dragged on and each time I held a friend's new baby, my face would flash a smile below misty eyes. It had been only a year since the U.S. Supreme Court had legalized abortion, and now a baby shortage was already being predicted across the country.
My hopes and dreams for a baby seemed to be disappearing. To make matters worse during this turmoil, Mother's Day was approaching and I was dreading the sinking feeling I would surely experience again when all the mothers in our church in Kansas City would go forward during a church service to be given special recognition. Just as I had feared, this Sunday I was left sitting back with all the men, while my friends and their mothers marched to the front. This special "Mother's Day Prayer," as it was called, seemed to take forever. I made up my mind that I would never subject myself to this helpless, hopeless, forsaken experience one more time. I vowed never to attend church on Mother's Day again.
At that very moment, in my state of depression and rebellion, the Lord spoke very clearly to me. He assured me that someday Mother's Day would become a very special day to me and that this promise would never be forgotten.
"Well," I thought, "you can prove it anytime." Obviously, I had plenty of doubt, and not a very good attitude toward a promise just made to me. The next year supported my doubt as it passed with more disappointments and frustrations. So when Mother's Day rolled around again, with still no sign of a promise being fulfilled, I stayed home from church. Continuing my teaching in the classroom in the public school system helped to keep my mind focused on other things that year. I had been given two student teachers to help train, helped produce the school musical, and was working on a science curriculum for the district.
However, every day after school on my way home, I began shopping for things to add to the nursery that I was determined to fill. My doctor had told me that there might be a possibility of an adoption the next summer. He would keep me informed. He said, "In fact, if I didn't already have six children of my own, I would adopt this baby myself. This young pregnant woman is very attractive, has a great personality, and has a strong musical background—just like you, Shirley. We'll keep our fingers crossed."
I'll never forget the phone call. It was on a Friday, near the end of school. Our baby girl had just been born and we could pick her up in just three days. We called everyone we knew. All day Saturday, I bought formula, diapers, bottles, and everything I could possibly think to buy. We were so excited we could hardly sleep Friday or Saturday night. Being too excited to sit and wait all weekend, we went on to church that morning. We could hardly wait to share the news all over again, in person, with everyone in our young adult Sunday School Class.
Not until we entered church that morning did I realize, in the midst of all the excitement, that it was Mother's Day!
It had been exactly two years since I'd received a promise about this special day. This time when the invitation was given for all the mothers to come forward, I proudly walked to the front of the church with tears of joy streaming down my face, basking in the glow of anticipating this new experience of motherhood. My prayers that morning were filled with thanksgiving and gratitude. Every Mother's Day, for the past 30 years, I am reminded of God's blessings and His promise.
Dan and I are so grateful to celebrate Holly's birthday with her every May 9, remembering when she entered our world following a Mother's Day promise that shall never be forgotten.
Shirley Eichenberger is a member of First Church of the Nazarene in Portland, Oregon, and editor of their women's newsletter.
Holiness Today, May/June 2005
Please note: This article was originally published in 2005. All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at that time but may have since changed.
