This past weekend, many of us took time to celebrate the mothers in our lives—whether our own moms or our grandmothers, daughters, or wives. We celebrate motherhood on this annual occasion, but what do we think about it the rest of the year?

Brett McCracken wrote for TGC last week about three recent movies that explore parenthood. They each highlight different aspects, positive and negative. But there’s a common thread that parenting, and motherhood in particular, is costly.

I see that cost in my friends who are in the thick of parenting multiple young children. They grapple with tricky behaviors and sleeplessness, with childcare decisions and discipleship.

But when we come together to celebrate Mother’s Day, our focus isn’t just on the cost these women paid to nurture life. It’s also—or at least should be—on the joy and delight that is the fruit of their labor. We thank moms for how their joyful strength and sacrifice have brought overflowing life and meaning. We consider motherhood, for all its difficulties, to be good. For those who find Mother’s Day difficult because of past or present hurts, the pain is exacerbated by the sense that this should be a day of celebration.

I don’t have any children, but I hope to someday. Articles like Brett’s keep my eyes on the joy to come, even as I know it’ll be difficult. In a culture that so often misunderstands parenthood, we need to grapple with the themes these movies raise—and bring scriptural wisdom to bear on our conversations about raising children.