Real Life Real Faith Women Walking By Faith May/June 2016 | Page 10
“On the Other Side of Trouble…”
Crystal L. Cochren
When Motherhood Hurts
Mother’s Day is a holiday honoring motherhood that is observed in different
forms throughout the world. The American incarnation of Mother’s Day was
created by Anna Jarvis in 1908 as a way of honoring the sacrifices mothers made
for their children. Mother’s Day became an official U.S. holiday in 1914 when
President Woodrow Wilson signed a measure officially establishing the second
Sunday in May as Mother’s Day.
I have always maintained a good relationship with my mother. God willing, in
June 2016, my mother will turn 81 years old. My childhood friends also had good
relationships with their mothers. I thank God that I have been able to receive
love and affection from my mother.
When I became a Public Defender in New Jersey, however, I saw firsthand how
motherhood hurts. In my role as a Public Defender, I represent indigent parents
in cases of abuse, neglect and termination of parental rights. My clients and I do
not meet under ideal circumstances. When we meet, some traumatic event has
occurred. My clients are hurting. The parental relationship has been disrupted
for one or more reasons. When a judge terminates parental rights, there is a
heaviness and sadness in the courtroom that I cannot put into words. When I
think about my clients and the loss of their children, I often meditate on this
scripture from the second chapter of Matthew:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
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