a humpback whale mother's day

This is a Mother's Day blog post that I wrote over 10 years ago when my children were little.  I thought it'd be nice to share again.  No matter what season of parenting you are currently in, the sacrificing and dedication never ceases.  Be blessed, Mamas!  You are doing a great job, and your Father in heaven sees you!  At the end of the day, that's all that matters.  

You might be asking what does a Humpback whale have to do with a Mother's Day devotional?  A heck of a lot!  The other morning, my four year old daughter began questioning the definition of the word poor.  I explained to her that the word poor, in the materialistic sense, pertains to those who do not have enough money to take care of their needs.  I proceeded to share with her, in a way that a 4 year old might understand, that Jesus said that we should give to those in need.  "For example, Ruth, if you have a lot of candy and your brother has none, you should share with him."  Simple enough. 

That evening we went to see the documentary Earth.  At one point, they showed a mama Humpback whale pushing her newborn baby to the surface of the water so it could receive air.  She did this over and over and over again.  I grew tired just watching her.  As the picture rolled, the narrator explained that the baby drinks 150 gallons of milk per day and that the mother is actually starving because they are in a part of the ocean with no food.

While watching and hearing all of this I began thinking, "God, I feel this exact same way...I endlessly clean, cook, break up fights, bathe kids, read to them, comfort them, train them to not whine, teach them to not talk back..." My moment of wallowing was interrupted as Ruth, the lesson on poor and rich very fresh on her mind from our morning's discussion, whispered to me, "Mom, that mama is poor, and that baby is rich!"  I nearly melted in my chair as I held her to me saying, "Yes, you're right."

The movie goes on to later show the mother and baby whale traveling OVER 4,000 miles to the South pole.  At one point they are in treacherous seas and the mother has to repeatedly flap her flipper on the ocean's surface in order for the baby to hear her and stay on course.  They finally make it to their destination and eat tons of shrimp!  I wanted to stand up and applaud in the theatre.  Mama whale had stayed her course, did what she was called to do, and had crossed the finish line!

The humpback whale is a great example of a persevering and sacrificing mother, with her child's needs foremost in mind.   We too become tired and hungry for more than food and sleep, and we all too often desire to give up at times; however, with compassion, diligence and perseverance we will make it to our destination.   I find solace knowing that while I am sacrificing my needs and wants for my children, I have a God that has done the same for me and provides me with the strength and grace for this journey.  

​I wanted to tell Ruth that the mother was rich too, but I will let her discover that on her own when she crosses the oceanic expanse of motherhood.  

Happy Mother's Day to all!