She is......mother

She certainly did not plan her life like this. It was not something she wished even her enemies, to be left with a teenage son to take care of ,alone.Her life had been a result  of decisions made by others.One of them  had  ushered her into the joys of motherhood over a dozen years ago,another decision  had modified  her name, she was now a single mother.

Not many of us may be able to travel back in time to feel what Hagar felt as her status changed in the household of Abraham.She had come in as a slave and according to tradition, she had done this willingly having followed the family as they left Egypt at one time.But no sooner had she settled in before she noticed that there was a void in the life of her employers as her master did not have a heir.She may have prayed for them not knowing that one day she would be called upon to bear the heir and this she dutifully did as God blessed her with a son..Her son was vital in the household until the miraculous birth of his step brother.

In so many ways Hagar represents so many mothers in our present generation who have had their hopes dashed as they find themselves left at the throes of parenting,alone Although some of these fathers have been snatched out by death or divorce, a vast majority of them had simply walked away  without looking back or the thought of doing so.Truth be told,these men  were not ready for the responsibility of fatherhood,and were just sperm donors.With an epidemic of increasing"absent fathers" many mothers now have to fend for both themselves and their children and often than not, they are not appreciated. Rather they are seen as threats. Not everyone appreciates the extent of  the sacrifice  and all it entails for these women  to be both mother and father to their children,.

 But Hagar's story encourages us as we observe her  during her  pregnancy crisis. Due to the  harsh treatment  inflicted by her mistress, she ran away .only to be met by  the Angel of the Lord on her return journey.For the first time,she was addressed by her name directly whn the Angel of the Lord spoke to her.. This is important to note for out of all the twelve Scriptural references to Hagar,  it is only on this occasion in the Old Testament that she  is  called her name. Even her employers never referred to her by name,rather  she was "Sarah's handmaid",one of the servant girls, and sometimes for the single mother who is on welfare support or waiting for some hand me  downs,it is very tempting to begin to see  herself as a statistics.This need not be the case as we see God's abundant care displayed as the Angel went further .Not only did he mention her name but he made her aware that he knew her address, her employers,and even that she was pregnant. Without the use of scans,he told her the sex of her baby and even gave a name to the baby while talking about his future.How comforting that was for Hagar and for us today.

There might be no cards or flowers from the father of your children and who knows you may not know the father.It does not really matter how you got into single parenthood, God still calls your name as he called Hagar's name He is concerned about single mothers hence Hagar's story is recorded.He appreciates all your labour and  knows all about your circumstances.He  loves you so much and I have written today on his behalf  to wish you and every other mother a  Happy Mother's day.


Happy Mother's Day
Grace  Tom-Lawyer