The Sacred Thread: Weaving Gods Love into Every Personal Journey of Motherhood

May is a beautiful reminder that spring is here, birds sing praises every morning, & new life of God’s creation surrounds us. But most of all, it is the beauty of honoring the heart of motherhood. A mother is more than a caretaker. She is a prayer warrior, a nurturer of souls, & a living testimony of God’s love poured out daily in countless, quiet ways.

As I reflect on who my mother was to me, my heart is stirred with gratitude, love, & awe. My mom Annie Gutierrez was a selfless, strong, loving, funny, & praying woman who feared God. Her life was beautifully imperfect & everyday she walked hand in hand with Jesus. She LOVED her family, friends, & everyone she met. 

There is not a day that does not go bye that I do not pray to have just one more moment, one more hug, kiss, or phone call from her. When the feelings of sadness come flooding in, my loving Father always comes through for me. Whether it’s seeing her in a dream, smelling her perfume randomly in the air, seeing turtles, or meeting someone who resembles & reminds me of her in every way. From her age to height, personality, smile & even her skin. He personally hand picks & orchestrates every moment for us. Just so that we know he loves & hears us. God always make us feel seen & loved. God’s love is personal that he personally knit you in your mother’s womb. He whispered in your ear who you are & anointed you before the foundation of the earth.

His love is personal:

“Yahweh appeared to me from another realm & said, “I have deeply loved you with a forever-love; that is why I have been so patient & kind to draw you to my heart. You are precious to me, & I will build you up again. Yes, Israel (Enter your Name) you will be rebuilt! Once more, you will be decked out in your best attire, take up your tambourines, & go out dancing with great joy.”

Jeremiah‬ 31‬:3‬-4‬ TPT‬‬‬‬‬‬

As I write this, my heart is filled with an endless stream of emotions: Sadness for all the moments that will never be with mom. & yet, I’m truly thankful for every moment I had with her while she was here on this earth. Heartache wrapped in sorrow for the children my husband & I dreamed of but have never held; lingers in the background. & at the same time, I have HAPPINESS for all of those who get to wear the title of “Mom/Dad” raising beautiful kids. 

A deep feeling of grief for those who have lost a child. That is pain that runs deep into the very core of your being. I know too many beautiful women who suffer in silence through this journey. Through witnessing the quiet strength of friends who have navigated this path, what I’ve come to learn is: Listen! It’s not about what’s easy for you- It’s about showing up & meeting them where they are. Be present; you don’t have to say anything. Just LOVE them. Most IMPORTANTLY, acknowledge & include the baby(s)they have lost. They had life & should never be forgotten. God loves & cares for the desires that we have, & in that we can find comfort. 

His Love comforts us:

“Give praise to the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! He is the Father who gives us tender love. ALL comfort comes from him”

2 Corinthians 1:3 NIRV

 God has given us so many women in the Bible that we can relate to. In their life stories God personally loved, called, & used them for His glory. One that comes to mind is Hannah. Hannah was loved & favored by her husband Elkanah but was unable to give him children. She wore insecurity, shame, & unworthiness. This allowed Peninnah, (who was extremely jealous of Hannah & the second wife of Elkanah) to treat Hannah as such. 

But you see, GOD already knew that Hannah was going to be a mom. It had already been written. God met Hannah at the alter as she poured out all of the sorrow, pain, & torture of being barren. & as she lay down her selfish desires of wanting children, God replaced it with His perfect plan. Hannah birthed, raised & gave back (like she promised) the son God gave her, Samual. Samual was the most respected & anointed prophet of his time. God used him to anoint Saul to be the first King of Israel. Which then would bring forth a man after Gods own heart, King David. 

God has held my hand, wiped my tears, & has loved me through my own infertility journey. I have come to realize that it is only his LOVE that fills the void in my heart. His love is deeply personal, intimate, & so REAL. It never ceases to amaze me.

He cares for our concerns:

“Can’t you see? I have carved your name on the palms of my hands! Your walls are always my concern.”

Isaiah 49:16 TPT

 God also honors those who are moms to four-legged fur babies. Yes, Fur Moms. I wasn’t planning to go in this direction, but I heard God say “They need to know that they matter to me too. They are just as important!” God doesn’t hold the job of being a “fur parent” lightly. If you have ever looked deeply in the eyes of a dog (your pet), you will see the heart of Jesus looking back at you. God gives his tenderness, appreciation, & respect to those who care for his animals. It is a beautiful thing to love the pet(s) God has placed in your hands. God loves all his creation no matter how big or small. He takes care of them all. 

We are all SEEN & not FORGOTTEN in the eyes of our Father.

He loves the animals:

“But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds in the sky. They will tell you. Or speak to the earth. It will teach you. Or let the fish in the ocean educate you. Are there any of these creatures that don’t know what the powerful hand of the LORD has done? He holds the life of every creature in his hand. He controls the breath of every human being.”

Job 12:7-10 NIRV

 God’s LOVE is absolutely personal! It is perfectly woven & serves a mighty purpose. Let me show you: In the life story of Ruth; her, her sister in-law &

her mother in-law were widowed. Ruth’s love, devotion & loyalty to her mother in-law Naomi directs her into the destiny God had for them. God already knew that they would be REDEEMED, & yet he still walked with Ruth through her grief, shame, & judgment of being widowed. So that she could meet Boaz, the picture of Christ love & marry him. Boaz was able to pay the price to redeem Ruth & her land no matter the cost. & what came out of that was a legacy of Faith brought forth their son Obed. He was the grandfather of the man after Gods own heart, King David!

YOU SEE! God united Hannah & Ruth’s lives together like a single thread, weaving each stitch perfectly together to fulfill His divine purpose. Our lives are connected & intertwined together. It is held by the greatest thread, our Heavenly Father. 

I encourage you to carve out a brief moment each day to pause. Sit. & remember a moment with your mom & the remarkable women who’ve touched your heart. Maybe it’s a silly memory only the two of you share—one that still makes you laugh. Or perhaps it’s a quiet moment when she made you feel safe, understood, & completely loved. Let us honor the women who poured love into us, whether through birth, care, or guidance, & celebrate the sacred journey of motherhood.

No matter the path you are on in this season: The loss of a mom, a first-time mom, currently in the trenches of motherhood. The loss of a child, the roller coaster of infertility, the hardships of adoption, fostering, or surrogacy. 

Whether you’re embracing the role of being an aunt, mother-like figure, a fur mom, or even the excitement of stepping into the roles of girlfriend or wife. There is grace on you. & though our paths may look different, they will cross in one way or another. We are all held together by the intricately woven thread created by our Papa God. 

His Love links us together

“In the human body there are many parts & organs, each with a unique function. And so it is in the body of Christ. For though we are many, we’ve all been interwoven into the body of Christ. This means we are all vitally joined to one another, with each contributing to the others. “

Romans 12:4-5 TPT

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible women—your love, care, & dedication is what makes the world a more beautiful place.

Sarah Smith