Saying Yes to God: Faith, Motherhood, and the Journey of Surrender
Happy Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord! The Annunciation is a profoundly powerful feast—one that speaks to the mystery of God’s divine plan for humanity and the remarkable strength of motherhood. When the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, announcing that she would conceive the Son of God, it was not just the beginning of a physical journey, but the start of a deep, spiritual voyage marked by faith, surrender, and immense courage. This moment is filled with significance, and this year, as I reflect on motherhood, loss, and faith, it resonates deeply within me—especially in light of my ba ngoai’s (my maternal grandmother) recent passing.
Growing up, my relationship with ba ngoai was never as close as I wished it was. Living on opposite sides of the country, our interactions were fleeting, limited mostly to holiday visits and shallow conversations. In my 26 years of life, I probably spent a total of five months in her presence. Though we lacked the close bond that many grandparents share with their grandchildren, I loved her dearly.
I received the heartbreaking news that she had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer last summer. When she called me to share her diagnosis, her request was simple but profound—she asked for prayers. We both knew that her cancer was basically a death sentence, yet in her voice, there was no trace of fear. In that moment, I realized that although we didn’t share the close relationship I had always wanted, we were bound together in a powerful way through our shared faith. The weight of her prognosis hit me not only because I knew I would lose her, but because it forced me to confront the fleeting nature of time. She would never get to see me graduate. She would never get to watch me walk down the aisle in a wedding dress. She would never get to meet my future children. In just a matter of months, she would be gone, leaving behind a trail of unfulfilled moments and dreams that we would never get to share.
As I reflect on her life, I find myself contemplating the profound beauty of motherhood, faith, and prayer, and how these elements shape our lives. My ba ngoai was a woman of unwavering faith. She raised all of her children in the church and made certain that they would do the same. Without her influence, I know that my relationship with God would be markedly different, perhaps even nonexistent. Growing up, I never fully appreciated my family’s unwavering commitment to the faith. But now, I have a deeper appreciation for how ba ngoai’s example of faithfulness has formed me into who I am today.
Even in the face of such a brutal diagnosis, she clung to God, trusting Him to guide her through the darkness. Like Mary, who said “yes” to God’s call despite not knowing the full extent of the journey ahead, my ba ngoai too said “yes” to the path laid before her. The Annunciation speaks to the power of God’s presence in our lives, especially in times of uncertainty. I find comfort in knowing that ba ngoai was never alone in her journey, and that her faith sustained her in her final months. The Lord was with her, providing her strength and hope, and now, I trust that she rests peacefully with Him in heaven. She carried the strength of her faith, and that strength is something I carry with me now, especially as I reflect on the life she lived.
In both the Annunciation and my ba ngoai’s final moments, I see a call to trust in God’s plan, even when we don’t fully comprehend it. It is a call to surrender—our hopes, our fears, our desires—to His will. Mary said “yes” to carrying Christ, and in her own way, my ba ngoai said “yes” to carrying her suffering and her journey of faith. Both women, in their unique ways, embodied the essence of motherhood: a resounding “yes” to life, to sacrifice, and to the love of God.
As I reflect on the beauty of this feast, I am reminded that motherhood is not just about moments of joy and celebration. It is also about the strength to say “yes” in the face of uncertainty, the courage to trust God’s plan, and the willingness to release control. Like Mary and my ba ngoai, we are all called to surrender ourselves to God, knowing that even in our hardest moments, He is with us. The Annunciation reminds us that God’s love enters the world through our “yes,” and in that love, we find the strength to face whatever lies ahead.
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Emily
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