Mother’s Day carries a particular weight with so many layers. In the weeks leading up to it I become somewhat insufferable as I attempt to come up with just the right words that will acknowledge the blessing of all the women in our church. This day is not just for women with biological or adopted children; rather, it is a day when we as Christ’s body celebrate how we are better because of the women in our midst.
As I prepared this year, I kept going back to a video I saw while scrolling on my phone that I couldn’t forget. It was an excerpt from a talk given by Maira Kalman, a painter and writer, on what women hold. Here’s what she said:
What do women hold? The home and the family, and the children and the food. The friendship, the work, the work of the world and the work of being human, the memories and the troubles and the sorrows and the triumphs and the love. Men do as well, but not quite in the same way. Sometimes when I am feeling particularly happy or content, I think I can provide sustenance for legions of human beings. I can hold the entire world in my arms. Other times, I can barely cross the room. And I drop my arms, frozen. There is never an end to holding, and certainly there is often the feeling of never doing enough. And then there is the next day and the next day. And one holds on.
When I heard that, something resonated with me. I began to think about the women in our story of faith, the mothers and the matriarchs. Does Scripture witness to what they held? It didn’t take me long to create a list of women in the Bible who hold things.
Eve held the apple. And Abel, the first of her children and the first one she had to bury.
Sarah held her belongings as she journeyed with Abraham to a new land. She couldn’t hold in her laughter when she overheard she’d be a first-time mom at ninety years old.
Hagar held her hands over her eyes in the wilderness when she could not bear to watch her son die of thirst. She was the first in the Bible to give God a name; she called him the One Who Sees.
Rachel held the pitchers to water the flocks and the shepherd’s staff. And she held her beauty, Jacob’s love, and her barrenness. Leah held her children, but they would never be enough.
Jochebed held her son Moses close for three months so his cries would not be heard by the Egyptians. She held the basket that would send him away.
Miriam held her timbrel high, leading the women in songs of praise as they danced with dry feet on the other side of the Red Sea, the other side of slavery.
Rahab held the spies up on her roof and the scarlet cord, a sign of hope that her family would be shown kindness because she trusted in God while others were melting in fear.
Deborah held the seat of a judge and went out in battle. Jael held the tent peg. Sisera’s mother held on to hope waiting for her son to return home.
Ruth and Naomi held their grief when they returned from Moab. Ruth held sheaves of barley and Boaz’s feet. Naomi held Obed, her grandson, a promise of hope and new life after years of loss.
Hannah held back her tears when Peninnah provoked her, but she wept before the Lord at Shiloh, pleading for a child. She held Samuel’s hand when he was weaned, leading him and leaving him to serve the Lord. She held the fabric to make the robes for her son, the one who would judge Israel and anoint David as king.
Bathsheba held her grief over the loss of her husband and David’s child who did not survive. She held Solomon and his court after he set up a throne for her at his right hand.
Tamar, David’s daughter, held her ornate robe and tore it. She put ashes on her head and held the shame and desolation her brother brought on after he assaulted her.
The prophet Huldah held the words of judgment from the Lord when the Book of the Law was found in the temple because the people had rebelled against God. She held words of hope for King Josiah because he humbled himself.
The Shunammite woman held the feet of the prophet Elisha and pleaded for her dead son. She held her son again when he was brought back to life.
Esther held her beauty and identity as a Jew, keeping it secret. She stood firm and held her own, stopping Haman’s plan to annihilate the Jewish people.
Elizabeth held Mary’s hands as the miracle baby leapt in her womb and she prophesied over the mother of God.
Mary held her hands open to Gabriel. She held the Messiah—swaddled in the stable, dedicated at the Temple, recovered after being lost when he was twelve. She held her gaze as her son died, held his body, held on to hope in the resurrection.
The prophet Anna held words of thanksgiving and hope when Jesus was dedicated in the temple where she worshiped night and day.
A woman reached out amidst the crowd and held the edge of Jesus’s robe, and immediately she knew she was healed of the sickness she held for twelve years.
A widow in Nain held her only son, whom Jesus resurrected after seeing his funeral procession and telling his mother, “Don’t cry.”
Martha held dishes and exasperation while Mary held her gaze on Jesus.
A Greek woman was willing to gather and hold any scraps Jesus would offer to heal her daughter. When she returned home, she found her child lying on the bed, the demon gone.
Salome, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Mary Magdalene held the spices as they approached Jesus’s tomb.
Mary Magdalene held the torment of seven demons and the freedom Jesus brought when he drove them out. She held the alabaster jar as she washed Jesus’s feet and anointed his head. She held his feet again in the garden on Sunday morning after she heard the Lord calling her name.
At Pentecost the women and men held flames above their heads. The promised Advocate and Comforter, the Spirit who hovered over the waters at the beginning, had come. God’s presence held as close as their breath.
Can you see these women of faith? Can you feel their strength, cunning, perseverance, despair, barrenness, shame, grief, hope, faith, trust, and deep love? They are our sisters, mothers, aunties, cousins, friends, elders.
I could go on to tell you about Lydia, Priscilla, Junia, Lois, Eunice, and other coworkers and friends of Christ. And you could tell me about the women who have held faith so that you could follow Jesus today. May we bless all the women in our congregations and bear witness to what they bring to our communities as we give glory to the God who sees us and holds us.
