Mother’s Day Devotional
the Lily of the Valley
When we moved into our home last year, I really wanted to plant a Lily of the Valley immediately in front of the front door in the little garden as a tribute to God, a memorial of sorts. We had been walking through a valley, but I wanted to honor God for His faithfulness, goodness and beauty even in the midst of trials and tribulations. Jesus says in Song of Solomon 2:1, I am the rose of Sharon, And the lily of the valleys.
Last year, I was really disappointed as it didn’t bloom and the weeds looked greener and happier than the dried up, brown lily. I thought to myself, Lord I planted this to honor you and I understand that the English Countryside garden isn’t really sustainable near the Jersey shore, but did I mess up the Lily of the Valley, the one plant I dedicated to you?
My one little plant, memorial to the Lord, felt like a failure.
I remember someone asking, what is that thing in front of your door. It was one of those private exchanges with the Lord that you really can’t explain with words because of how precious was to me. As I was weeding at the end of the summer, I was about to pull it out of the ground and throw it out.
However, I sensed a hesitation from the Holy Spirit to not uproot what I had been prayed over and planted. So, I listened to the whisper.
A couple of days ago, I was walking through the front door and unexpectedly noticed the Lily of the Valley! It had sprung up, was standing up straight and the little white bells were so precious! It was as if it appeared out of nowhere in full bloom.
My eyes filled with tears as I was struck with the Lord’s faithfulness to honor the little seeds I planted in faith. The Holy Spirit impressed on me that whatever you lay on the altar, no matter how dead it looks, He can raise it up and make it lovely, beautiful and stable.
I began to research the Lily of the Valley and found another name for the plant is Mary’s tears and surprisingly the clay soil was actually prime environment. Mary’s tears…
With Mother’s Day approaching, I began praying for those who have lost mothers, those who never knew their mother, have broken relationships with their mothers as well as mothers crying out for their children who are distant, far away, or who are no longer with us.
The Holy Spirit began talking to me about the suffering Mary endured throughout her life and witnessing the death of Jesus on the Cross. A mother seeing her own Son crucified in His innocence. However, her love for Him and God’s grace on her life enabled her to endure this heart-wrenching tragedy.
She saw Him hung on the Cross and wept unimaginable tears. However, she also saw her son, Jesus, raised up in beauty by the faithful Word of God. Psalm 126:5 says “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy”. The joy at seeing Jesus in the Upper Room must have been beyond any of the pain she endured and worth the suffering.
For mothers, spiritual mothers, godmothers, or other mother figures who have been through battles for your children and endured much suffering and sacrifice, the Lord sees it. He hasn’t forgotten you. Your tears were the seeds of prayer, seeds of breakthrough, seeds of love and seeds of desperation that the Lord Himself, A Man of Many Sorrows, understands.
He is drawing your children back with cords of lovingkindness. Like the shriveled up lily of the valley that the Holy Spirit prompted me to leave alone for a season, it may look beyond hope or help. However, God delights in using the water of our tears to spring forth beautiful creations. He will make all things beautiful in His time. Your joy at seeing your child again is on its way.
Father, thank you for never forgetting any of the seeds we have sown in our families. Help me to see through the eyes of faith, even through the tears and despair. Help me to continue to pray and preserve even when it looks hopeless. Lord, I trust you that you are the Faithful and True and love my children even more than I do. Thank you for collecting all my tears in a bottle, and like Mary, give me the grace to endure as you draw my children home to You and me in Jesus’ name.