Mother’s Day is a complicated and beautiful day.

Beautiful if you only hold perfect, unbroken memories and stories.

Complicated because all of us are touched by motherhood in different ways.

Even if we had the most wonderful, loving relationship with our mothers, all of us cannot bypass the soulful journey of motherhood.

Because we all were created as Eve, givers of life, we must each take the journey to find our voice as a mother.  Because each of us is still a little girl inside, we must each find our way.

There are many stories I want to tell you. But first, let me pour you something warm.

Something sweet. Something soothing for your soul. To refresh you in the coming days leading up to Mother’s Day.

I hope you enjoy and share them with friends who need a shot of rest.

I’m serving up — 6 Soul Espressos:  Restful Promises For Every Woman on Mother’s Day.

1.  For the mom who needs to know she isn’t on her own:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 40:11

You are always God’s Beloved. Especially on days you feel empty and poured out.  

2.  For the woman who longs for the comfort of a mom:

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.”
Isaiah 66:13

Fold yourself into Him. God will hold you and stay with you. Confide in Him.

3.  For the woman who has left home or family to follow God’s story in her:  

“I tell you the truth,”Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields– and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.” Mark 10:29-30

Sometimes we have to let go of our idea of family in order to become a part of a God’s kind of family.

4.  For the woman whose heart longs for a voice to call her mommy: 

“He makes the barren in the house as a joyful mother of children.”Psalm 113:9

God made you to be life-giving. He honors your pain. He will make something beautiful birth in you and bring life to others through you. 

 5.  For the single mom, who is carrying the fears and emotional weight of parenting alone:

   When Hagar was abandoned by Abraham and sent away to fend for herself all alone in the wilderness with Ishmael, she cried out to God.
God “opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave [her son] drink”  Genesis 21:19

God feels the fear in your heart when you feel overwhelmed by the need to emotionally and financially take care of you and your child and will come to your aid. He sees you. He will not abandon you.  He will take care of you both.

6.  For moms of all ages, who are letting go day by day — to launch their children into the world — whether they are five going to kindergarten, eighteen off to college in high school, twenty-eight to be married, thirty-forty-something starting their own families or fulfilling their lives in singleness.

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord… Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth. How blessed is the [woman] whose quiver is full of them. They will not be ashamed.” Psalm 127:3-5

Our children don’t belong to us. They are a gift. That we open and offer back to the world by launching them, as arrows meant to fly and sing through the air, to go where God directs them to go. 

May these six promises prompt some stories to rise within you. And may you share them with God in soulful conversation, with friends to confide in and keep you company during the day or night.

As for the childhood stories that shape me, I’ve captured some of the most tender, intimate ones in my book Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul to Rest.

I hope to meet with you between the pages of the stories I share in each chapter.

There are journaling prompts for you to uncover your stories — to create space in your life to rest — and feed your soul.

You will also find discussion questions that are conversation starters for you to share your stories together with one or two kindreds. Or a small group.

Together, let’s uncover the stories deep in our souls, to create space in our hearts and in our schedules.

So we can connect deeper to our hearts.

To God.

And each other.

Have you had a chance to see my story in this short video? (click here).

Sitting at Starbuck’s yesterday, before picking up Josh and Caleb from school, I struck a conversation with another mom.  She was curious what I was working on and I showed her this short video.  What followed was a story she shared with me. A total stranger became a fellow sojourner.  I asked if she had a faith, but she said she wasn’t religious.  I smiled because I knew God was meeting with her through me, as I listened to her story.

If you’re feeling a desire to rest and refresh in your relationship with God and your heart, order a copy of my memoir-driven guidebook Finding Spiritual Whitespace: Awakening Your Soul To Rest .

This book is for anyone longing to create space in life to draw closer to God, to rest and discover who they can be when rest becomes their heart’s home.  Take your own intimate journey — make room for you. For God. For rest.

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What are the soulful promises of rest for you?

Pull up a chair. Click to comment. Share scriptures that encourage you about motherhood.

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Just For You. Exclusive Pre-Release Bonuses

If you enjoyed today’s restful promises — order my book  Finding Spiritual Whitespace & Receive Exclusive Gifts Available only With Pre-ordering (click here):

A Mini-eBook “The Lost Chapters”
a Printable “10 Soul Espressos: 10 Restful Scriptures
“You’re Loved” Digital Wallpaper to breathe online

“Whitespace is soul grace. Bonnie Gray ushers weary women into the real possibility.”

–Ann Voskamp, author of theNew York Times bestsellerOne Thousand Gifts

“If you want to hear Jesus speak more tenderly to your soul than ever before, this is the book for you. I love Bonnie’s honest and unassuming voice. I will be recommending this message to many friends.”

–Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries

“If you’ve ever been hurt and needed healing, if you’ve ever been afraid and needed courage, if you’ve ever been weary and needed room to breathe, then Bonnie Gray is the guide you’ve been looking for as you journey with Jesus to a new place of peace and freedom in your life.”

– Holley Gerth, New York Timesbestselling of “You’re Going To Be Okay”

“We live in a culture that brags and boasts about being busy. Into that reality steps Bonnie with a new idea.

Whitespace is an important concept and Bonnie has captured it perfectly. If you’re exhausted with being exhausted, read this book. If you feel too busy to read this book, then that’s probably the best sign of all that you need it.”

–Jon Acuff, New York Timesbestselling author of Start!

Now It’s Your Turn — Link Up!

To inspire your stories, here is our new Whitespace Thursday Linkup Badge. Write what prompts your heart. Share your voice.

Today’s Thursday 5/1/14 writing prompt:  your story

Next Thursday’s 5/8/14 writing prompt:  what helps you relax as a mom — what feeds your soul? 

** Thank you for using #spiritualwhitespace to share your pictures on Instagram & Twitter! ** It’s fun to see the moments that feed your soul!

Other Whitespace Prompts: 

– moments of beauty and rest
– feeding your soul
– your alone time with God

Or choose your own open writing prompt.  Be you.

Click  to learn more about Whitespace Thursdays.