She was the perfect momma. Paige was different from many other female dogs. From the time she was a puppy, Paige was nurturing. As a pup, she groomed her siblings, shoved them close to their mother so they could nurse, and made sure they could feel the warmth of their mother’s body before she would lie down and rest.
Paige wanted to be a mom and tried multiple times but never achieved having her own litter. Our vet would bring Paige into the surgical suite when he had to do a C-section on a pregnant dog. As the pups were born, they were placed in Paige’s care to clean and stimulate until their momma was awake enough to take over. Paige would have been an amazing momma dog. She never had her own puppies, but that did not change the motherly love this animal possessed.
The writer of Psalms tells us that children are the fruit of the womb—a blessing and a reward from God. But motherhood isn’t always defined just by whether a woman gives birth or not. It is determined by the nurturing love she shares, the guidance and wisdom she gives, and the willingness to embrace others. Of course, this doesn’t slight those women who have given birth. They experience the physical body changes that say they are a mother. The point is that God places that nurturing and loving trait within the female wiring. Whether or not we can conceive and give birth, an unexplainable, abounding love that we can’t explain still happens.
Motherhood is a blessing, but it’s essential for us to remember that mothers come in multiple facets, from giving birth to adopting to showing caring love for others. Giving birth is only part of what it means to be a momma. It’s all in the love and desire to nurture. Whether a certain woman is the one who gave birth or the one who simply loves us as if she had birthed us is a gift. A joy. A blessing. A mother is formed when she feels that overwhelming veil of love cover her, and when her heart embraces an individual, she begins to “mother.”
On this Mother’s Day, celebrate all our mothers, regardless of how they attained the title. Remember, as our heavenly Father does, that a mother’s love embraces those who accept it. Through our mothers, we will feel the depth of Christ’s love.
Cindy K. Sproles is a best-selling, award-winning author. She is a speaker and a conference teacher who teaches nationwide. Cindy is the cofounder of Christian Devotions Ministries, www.christiandevotions.us, and www.inspireafire.com. She serves as a writing mentor with WRAMS (Writing Write Author Mentoring Service) and is the director of the Asheville Christian Writers Conference. Visit Cindy at www.cindysproles.com.