A Mother

God’s plan of salvation was to become one of us, the Son of God made flesh to dwell among us, to suffer with us, to be our Savior, giving his life in atonement for our sins, and rising from the dead to bring us eternal life.

That’s a lot.

But the whole divine plan hinged on one thing, on one human person: a mother.

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate and honor our earthly mothers, and during the whole month of May we celebrate and honor our heavenly mother, who is The Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Savior. Jesus offered His mother, Mary, to be the mother of His beloved disciple and instructed His beloved disciple to take her into his heart and home as his own mother. All of us who desire to be beloved disciples of Jesus are likewise invited, maybe even instructed, to receive Mary into our hearts and homes as Our Blessed Mother.

So, on Mother’s Day, we send greeting cards to our earthly mothers, give them presents, and maybe take them out for a meal. And in the month of May, we adorn our parish church’s statue of Mary with a crown of flowers, sing hymns about her, and perhaps pray a rosary, or several rosaries, together as a church family.

But let’s not forget that God’s entire plan of salvation for each and every one of us rested upon His mother! This fact is worth more than a month of flowers and songs, just as the fact of our own existences resting upon our mothers deserves more than one day of gratitude and generosity. Is Our Blessed Mother truly in our hearts and our everyday lives? Is our own love and gratitude for our particular mothers ingrained so deeply into us that it flows abundantly into relationship with her every day?

I’m going to guess that your answer, dear reader, is no.

Mine is.

If we’re honest with ourselves, then we know that we don’t always treat our mothers the way that we should. Too often we are forgetful or neglectful, and far too often we are — I am — so caught up in myself that we dump upon our mother our needs, wants, and frustrations, ignoring the fact that she has her own. Perhaps we get annoyed with her suggestions and constant concern, as though we are oblivious to the fact that when we were most vulnerable she was there to take care of our every need. A mother’s loving concern doesn’t just get shut off when her child turns 21 and then comes back on again only when the child wants it to. She has suffered when we have suffered, been strong when we were weak and wise when we were foolish. She stood beside us at the cradle and has always been that loving shoulder for us to lean on.

Jesus can say the same about Mary.

Jesus was always looking out for His mother, even to the end. He was aware of her noble ability to sacrifice herself for the good of her child, for the good of all of her children, because He, being God, created her. And He chose her to be His mom. Not only so that He could be formed in her womb, and she could bear Him, nurse Him, care for Him and teach Him, but also so that she could be right there by His side through His ministry and at the end of His life, when He needed her the most. And she is still at His side, assumed into His glory when the end of her own life came. Our mothers — on Earth and Our Blessed Mother in Heaven — will always be willing to stand beside us, physically, emotionally, or spiritually.

May we always remember to stand by them.

Anyone who watches my latest EWTN interview should clearly be able to see that my mother’s caring and loving concern is unconditional and amazingly enduring. I’m grateful to God for my parents, for their self giving love, their sacrifices, and their generosity. My mother carried me in her womb for nine months, and for nine months she was full of hope for me. When I was nine months out of the womb, she began to have concerns about the strength of my little body, but she was still hopeful. When the reality of my life in a wheelchair finally hit her, it hit her hard. She was severely shaken, but she did not crumble. She was repeatedly tested, but she did not fail. Whatever success I have gained in my life hinges on one thing: love. I needed a mother, my mother. With and through her, I’m able to fulfill God’s loving plan for me.

And whether I fail in my potential or not, my mother has certainly not failed in hers. The proof is not in my sister’s Master’s degree or my published book, it’s not in her grandchildren or her minutes on TV. The proof that my mother is fulfilling her potential is in the faith, hope, and love that continually beats in her heart throughout the whole of her life, come what may.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mama — every day!

© 2025 Christina Chase

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Feature Photo “Mama and Me” courtesy of my dad, circa 1977 © Dan Chase