A Mother’s Love: Reflections on Mary, Motherhood, and God’s Unfailing Love

Mother’s Day is a time to honor the women whose love has shaped us—those who have carried, nurtured, and sacrificed in ways both seen and unseen. Whether biological, adoptive, spiritual, or simply maternal in heart, a mother’s love is one of life’s most powerful gifts. It is deep, enduring, and often quiet—but always life-giving.

Still, even the most faithful mother’s love is only a reflection of something far greater: the perfect and unfailing love of God. And when we look at the life of Mary, the mother of Jesus, we catch a glimpse of how beautifully human love can point us back to divine love.

Mary’s motherhood began not in comfort, but in surrender. When the angel Gabriel appeared to her with a message that would change her life, she responded not with fear, but with faith: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) That yes—the yes of a young woman unsure of what lay ahead—opened the door to our salvation. It was a yes born out of trust and humility, the kind of yes many mothers whisper daily as they navigate challenges, make sacrifices, and love beyond what they thought possible.

As Jesus grew, so did Mary’s silent strength. Scripture tells us that she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart” (Luke 2:19). She carried the mystery of God’s plan quietly within her, holding her questions and hopes in prayer. Many mothers do the same—they carry burdens no one sees, speak prayers no one hears, and treasure moments that others might overlook. Their strength is not always loud, but it is always holy.

Perhaps the most profound picture of a mother’s love is found at the foot of the Cross. In John 19:25, we read, “Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…” She didn’t run from the pain. She didn’t try to stop it. She stood. She stayed. She loved her Son even in His suffering—and stayed present in His darkest hour. That is what love does. It doesn’t leave. It endures.

But even Mary’s love—immense and sacrificial—was never meant to be the final destination. It was always meant to point us to God. In Isaiah 49:15, the Lord asks, “Can a mother forget her nursing child? Even if she forgets, I will never forget you.” He is reminding us that even the most loving parent may fail—but He never will. His love is perfect, eternal, and unconditional. It is the kind of love that sees every broken piece of us and stays anyway. A love that came down in the form of a baby, born through Mary’s yes, and stretched out His arms on a Cross to save us.

So today, as we celebrate the mothers in our lives, may we also take a moment to reflect on the love of God—a love so complete, so enduring, that it makes even the strongest human love look small in comparison. Let us thank God for the gift of motherhood, for the example of Mary, and for the promise that we are held, remembered, and loved more deeply than we could ever comprehend.

Mother’s Day Prayer with Mary

Blessed Mother, you said “yes” with open hands and a trusting heart.

Teach us to love with courage, to serve with humility, and to pray with perseverance.

For every mother who gives, who grieves, who hopes and holds—wrap them in your mantle of peace.

And remind us, dear Lord, that even the purest mother’s love is only a glimpse of Yours—steadfast, eternal, and unfailing.

Amen.

Your sister in Christ,

Monica