{"id":32453,"date":"2022-09-10T16:10:11","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/dont-ask-moms-to-stand-in-church-this-sunday\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T16:10:11","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T21:10:11","slug":"dont-ask-moms-to-stand-in-church-this-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/dont-ask-moms-to-stand-in-church-this-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"Don\u2019t Ask Moms to Stand in Church This Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Ivan Karasev photo – Unsplash<\/div>\n

How Churches Can Celebrate Mother\u2019s Day Without Hurting Others<\/strong><\/h2>\n

By Aaron Wilson<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re struggling to get pregnant, wave your hand in the air so everyone can see,\u201d the pastor announced to the crowd.<\/p>\n

This wasn\u2019t what the pastor actually said, but it might as well have been, Ashley thought when her pastor asked all mothers in the congregation to stand and be recognized in honor of Mother\u2019s Day.<\/p>\n

As a wife dealing with infertility, Ashley felt ostracized. Forced to sit while others stood, she felt singled out and humiliated.<\/p>\n

Mother\u2019s Day at church was a difficult time for Ashley\u2014and she wasn\u2019t alone.<\/p>\n

A Difficult Sunday<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s not just infertile couples who may find it awkward to attend church on Mother\u2019s Day. The list can also include:<\/p>\n

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  • Singles who desire to be married and have children.<\/li>\n
  • Parents who\u2019ve experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a child.<\/li>\n
  • Stepmoms helping to raise children who don\u2019t value them.<\/li>\n
  • Couples facing hurdles in the process of adoption.<\/li>\n
  • Foster parents who\u2019ve chosen to refrain from being called \u201cmom\u201d and \u201cdad\u201d for the emotional health of a child in their care.<\/li>\n
  • Parents who\u2019ve placed a child for adoption.<\/li>\n
  • Mothers who\u2019ve had an abortion (and fathers who encouraged them to do so).<\/li>\n
  • Women with wayward, distant, or estranged grown children.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    With so many emotions attached to the subject of motherhood, churches can find it difficult to know how to navigate Mother\u2019s Day, which\u2014like Father\u2019s Day\u2014always falls on a Sunday.<\/p>\n

    Here are a few ideas to help your church honor mothers from the pulpit while also being sensitive to challenges your congregation faces surrounding the subject of motherhood.<\/p>\n

    Don\u2019t Single Out Mothers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    Many churches seek to honor moms on Mother\u2019s Day by asking them to stand and be acknowledged or by giving them gifts such as flowers, bookmarks, or gift cards during or after services.<\/p>\n

    \u201cSuperlative moms\u201d\u2014those who\u2019ve been mothers the longest or ones with the most kids\u2014sometimes get gifts as well.<\/p>\n

    But through such practices, churches may unintentionally be broadcasting some members\u2019 private struggles by requiring them to sit while others stand or by creating scenarios where some women walk out of services empty-handed while others leave with physical tokens acknowledging their motherhood.<\/p>\n

    These practices can create confusion, awkwardness, and pain. For example:<\/p>\n