Mama-Hearts, Holy Ground
The prayer space of a mama-heart has got to be one of the most tender places in all of God’s creation. We enter into a sacred and awesome conversation with God Almighty - just as Moses the common shepherd met with that same God on an isolated mountain - and find ourselves on holy ground. Humbled and in need, we’re told to “take off our sandals” (Exodus 3:5b) as we seek His strength and provision and leave the outcome in His hands.
You see, that mama-heart stands on the holy ground of worship when…new life stirs and kicks inside her womb; hours of agonizing labor are forgotten, replaced by deepest joy the moment she sees her newborn; her arms hold the miracle of life; her body produces the warm nourishment of mother’s milk; trusting, dependent eyes gaze on her face; ten unique fingerprints grace the fingertips of her baby’s hands; she realizes she would give her own life for the life of this precious little one.
Holy ground is found in the prayer space of a mama-heart grateful for…pancakes and sticky fingers at brunch; crayon masterpieces - flowers, rainbows, and sunshine; a chubby hand holding hers during a beautiful worship song; a nap; dollar store treasures and tissue paper stuffed in gift bags; receiving a handmade card given with absolute delight; snuggles and giggles.
Just as holy is the ground where a mama-heart is on her knees…longing to hold a child in her arms; mourning a miscarriage; exhausted from back-to-back-to-back sleepless nights; frustrated by her lost patience and rash words; hurting in her heart because of the hurt in her child’s heart; wondering if she’s done enough; aching as she watches mistakes being made and consequences suffered; missing that kid when wings are spread and good-byes are said.
The prayer space of a mama-heart is holy ground when thanksgiving overflows for…a card with more than a signature – an actual message written inside; a leisurely phone call; “I love you, Mom;” bear hugs from grown kids; a Mason jar filled with flowers; her child being a great parent; the gift of time.
That holy ground for a mama-heart is shared with fellow burden-bearers when pain comes from…addictions stealing the mind, body, and soul of her child; stormy days of fostering; sacrifices willingly made but unappreciated; the loss of a child’s life in her lifetime; estrangement - and reconciliation sought but rejected; the ripples of poor decisions spreading havoc in the lives of others; loneliness inflicted by overcrowded schedules and wrong priorities.
Even in the pain, this is holy ground.
And finally, when a mama loses her own mama, there is another patch of holy ground, filled with mourning and missing…her words of wisdom; the opportunity to mend fences; her compassion and understanding; the recipes she carried in her head; how she was still her child’s greatest cheerleader; her friendship; her selfless love.
430 years of slavery, God’s people crying out in misery – and in His perfect timing, God sets His rescue plan in motion. He calls a common man into a supernatural meeting in the barren desert sand, and the thing that makes the ground holy is His presence. Moses, feeling weak and unqualified, trusts, obeys, and leaves the outcome in God’s hands.
Today, as Mother’s Day is almost upon us, remember that the thing that makes the ground that we stand on holy – just as for Moses - is God’s presence. May the mama-hearts in your life, feeling weak and unqualified, draw near to Him with it all – worship, joy, pain, gratitude, and mourning. And as we celebrate and honor those mama-hearts, let’s link arms with them by standing barefoot beside them on the holy ground of prayer.
