Women's Day.

By Trish Patrick in All Sorts

considers the significance for all who nurture our young in this age where truth, justice, equality and the fundamentals of basic human decency are in question.

Women's Day
There is no way one can miss the fact that 'Mother's Day' has come
round again.
We are swamped with the inevitable advertising on radio, television,
magazines etc., exhorting us to demonstrate how much we love and appreciate our
mothers by buying a gift ranging from relatively inexpensive to wildly extravagant, often
accompanied by a nauseatingly sentimental message.
As children, we weren't exposed to intense media advertising as kids are today. Tv, phones, magazines, computers all intended to pressure the consumer that they REALLY need to buy Mum something she doesn't either want or need to demonstrate how much
she is loved. It can become a guilt trip.
'Back in the day' Mothers were presented at church with a flower,
usually a white Chrysanthemum, and if she was VERY lucky, breakfast in bed.
Whenever I asked my Mother what she would like, she would look at
me very meaningfully and say....” all I want is for you to be good”
Hmm...I can’t imagine why she might have said that!
The sermon on Mother's Day, (delivered by a male minister of course)
was usually exhorting mothers to be the fine virtuous women as
described in Proverbs 31. The portion of the text describing her as
active in the role of a businesswoman ( albeit while carrying out her
maternal duties) was carefully overlooked. Meanwhile her husband is 'known in
the gates when he sits among the elders of the land, and his heart
safely trusts her so he will have no lack of gain.'
God the father as a theological concept was acceptable in the 1950s,
however God as mother...well this was a bridge too far.
In the denomination in which I was raised, Mary was faithfully
wheeled out on Mother’s Day and Christmas, then carefully shelved
until the following year. Motherhood was the one safe attribute of
women, after all Jesus had a mother. But for a large section of
Christendom Mary was relegated to a state of perpetual virginity.
Motherhood was mostly the way a woman was validated.
That was her safe and proper place.
However...it’s not that simple.
It is important to remember that motherhood for many is not always a
happy event. While it is often a joyous and wonderful experience, it
can be difficult and painful for many for a host of reasons .
It’s not just mothers who 'mother' and nurture. More and more
Grandparents are required to step into the parenting role, indeed
some great grandparents are needing to step up. As a great
grandparent myself, I'm well aware what a big 'ask' that must be.
Extended family, aunts and uncles too are finding themselves involved
to some extent in this demanding yet important task.
I wonder what Jesus would think of Mother’s Day May 10th, 2026.
In biblical text his attitude toward his own mother was less than
sentimental, at least the way it is related by the authors in the gospels.
In biblical times there wouldn't be much room for the luxury of
sentimentality. The daily grind would put paid to that.
Setting aside all the peripheral commercialism, it is right and good that
we celebrate all mothers.
Especially those who grieve the loss of a beloved child. For many,
today must surely be a day of bittersweet memory. We think of
mothers struggling in the space between the perception of their
child's rearing and the disparate perception of their troubled adult
child.
Motherhood / nurturing these days presents challenges unthought of
in our day.
AI presents a minefield of unforeseen situations socially, geopolitically
and possibly even a threat to humanity. Our world as it today makes it
all too easy to head down a rabbit hole of negativity and gloom. Over
sentimentalising celebrations like Mother's Day may be one of
societies ways of dealing with it.....of holding it at arm’s length.
Unfortunately, it is an opportunity seized by huge commercial interests
who have everything to gain from it.
Climate change and the degradation of the environment also loom
large over our very existence.
These factors will intensely influence the demands that will fall
squarely on the shoulders of parents and nurturers globally.
Therefore, let us celebrate ALL who nurture!
The saying 'it takes a village to rear a child' will take on a whole new
significance for parents indeed for all who nurture our young in this
age where truth, justice, equality and the fundamentals of basic
human decency are in question.
That is a story yet unimagined and of course, as yet untold.
Trish Patrick.