Today in the church calendar is Mothering Sunday. Traditionally, this was the day when servants were given time to return to their mother church, their home parish. Over time it has become something slightly different: a day to give thanks for those who nurture and care for us.
Perhaps that older meaning still has something to teach us. Mothering Sunday was never just about one person. It was about belonging, about returning to the place and the people who nurtured your faith and your life. Mothering Sunday today reminds us that throughout life we are often held in many ways – by parents, by friends, by mentors, by the quiet kindness of others.
However, it can be a complicated day. For some, it highlights distance from loved ones, or brings memories of those who are no longer here. For others there is pain in broken relationships, or the quiet heartbreak of wanting children but not being able to have them. For many, it’s a day with mixed emotions.
Growing up, I was taught that Mothering Sunday wasn’t just about mums. It was about all those people in our lives who mother us – those who nurture, guide and love us.
I remember hunting through the shops looking for cards that said Mothering Sunday rather than Mother’s Day. I remember church handing out posies to all the women in the congregation, a small token of gratitude for the countless ways they cared for others.
It wasn’t until much later that I realised how complex the day can be. In recent years my inbox has filled with “opt out of Mother’s Day emails”, giving people space if the day is too painful. Some stay away from church today. Some feel forgotten or overlooked.
But God sees. God remembers.
Psalm 34 tells us that “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
So today, if you are celebrating, Happy Mothering Sunday. Thank you for the love, patience and compassion you pour into the lives of others.
And if today is difficult, please know this:
God is with you.
You are seen.
You are known.
You are loved, exactly as you are.
And you are held in that love today.
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