Mother's Day is a time to celebrate the women who raised us, supported us, and loved us unconditionally. To honor our mothers, our team has compiled a list of special songs that capture what their mom means to them and shared a few words about why that song speaks to their relationship.
Downhere, "A Better Way"
Those who know me likely won't be surprised at my pick of "A Better Way" by Downhere. This song introduced me to one of my all-time favorite bands, Downhere. My mom heard the piano hook in a dream one night--twice. It stayed in her head and we simply had to find what song it was from. When we discovered the song, we discovered the band, and they became a family favorite. We became friends with the band after seeing them in concert several times, and I eventually had the song sung at my wedding. I'll never forget arriving at the Church with my parents and hearing the song being practiced as we walked into the sanctuary.
The song's lyrical themes remind us of what God's love for us looks like and what our love for Him looks like. But it also goes deeper than that, and the themes can work also in the context of romantic love, or of the love between a parent and child. "A man laying down his life for his friends... I love you cannot be said a better way." Yes, this applies to Christ laying down his life for each one of us, it can apply to literally sacrificing your life for someone, but it can also apply to the day-to-day sacrifices we make for each other, such as the sacrifices we make for a spouse, our children, our friends, and the sacrifices our parents made for us.
This has always been my mom's favorite Downhere song. It exemplifies the sacrificial love she's demonstrated for me every day of my life. She loves hard and unwaveringly and has consistently given me an example of unshakeable sacrificial love. She and my dad gave me the gift of faith in Christ from the beginning. For Mother's Day this year, I can think of no better song to dedicate to her to wish her a happy Mother's Day! -JJ Francesco
TobyMac & DC Talk, "Love Feels Like"
It wasn't until I became a parent myself that I truly understood the sacrifices and unconditional love of my mom. It's the kind of love that will sometimes wear you thin and leave you feeling exhausted at the end of the day, but it's also the kind of love that keeps pushing and knows no limits. This song is about the messy moments of love. It's not always perfectly posed family photos and dream vacations, but it's the sacrifices, advocacy, tears, and love that never stop. This is what real love feels like. "Harder than I thought/So much harder than I thought it'd be/But empty's never felt so full."
Not only is TobyMac my mom's favorite artist, but he's also the first concert she took me to, which laid the first brick in the foundation of my love for Christian music. -Felicia Holt
Hollyn, "Hey Mama"
This song by Hollyn is a great and authentic tribute to her mom. It appropriately reflects my thoughts and feelings of admiration and longing for my mother, who I lost more than 10 years ago. The song's lyrics speak for themselves. I miss you, Ma. Happy Mother's Day in heaven! -Tommy G.
Cody Towell, "You Chose To Stay"
Like so many others, I've felt a lot of rejection and hurt in my life. From growing up to learning how to be an adult, life doesn't get any easier. I've learned that the people who choose to stay and point us to Jesus are rare to find and worth holding close to. One of those people in my life is my mother. We've not always gotten along the best, but we've grown and now are in a place of joy and closeness that God brought for us.
Looking back, even when things got really hard, my mother was always there for me and cheering me on. She showed me God's grace and goodness even when she got nothing from it. She truly loved me through it and continues to be someone I love deeply and thank God for every day. This song by Cody Towell, the winner of this year's Next Big Thing Award at the We Love Christian Music Award, is such a beautiful song honoring his mother that I hope touches you as it did thinking of my own mom. -Bradden Ford
Donnie McClurkin, "I Call You Faithful"
Twenty years ago, I moved an hour away from Conroe, Texas, back to Houston after becoming a full-time teacher. I was able to see my parents more frequently as they moved back to Houston, from a town close to Austin. When visiting my parents, they would watch TBN and programs such as "Praise the Lord" which I enjoyed. Pastor McClurkin would perform a powerful song of worship, "I Call You Faithful." If anyone knows anything about Pastor McClurkin, then they know that he always goes in with fervor and power. My mother and father absolutely loved this song, and it's only fitting that I dedicate it to my mother, Willie Mae Lacy.
Pastor McClurkin sings and adlibs, "I call you faithful/Your name is faithful/You are so faithful to me/I call You Faithful/Your name Faithful/Faithful You are/And Faithful you'll be." This song done in 3/4 time signature is like a waltz with our Savior. It takes me back to a wonderful time and always reminds me of my mom! She has been a rock in my life, and anything to make her smile and rejoice is enough for me! Thank you, Pastor McClurkin. -Dwayne Lacy
Steven Curtis Chapman, "Speed Of Love"
Steven Curtis Chapman wrote this song about his mom and released a music video to honor those who have inspired us and touched us by living at the "speed of love."
"Besides hopefully bringing a smile again to my sweet mom's face, and reminding her how thankful I am for her and the ways she's impacted my life and the lives of so many," shared Chapman. "It's also my hope that the song resonates with you and encourages all of us who are blessed to still have our moms with us to hug them tight and 'love on them' well during this Mother's Day season." We all need people in our lives who remind us to slow down and love those around us. Moms do that so well. -Kevin McNeese
for KING & COUNTRY, "Unsung Hero"
The song that inspired a movie that inspired a generation to remember the one before them. "Unsung Hero" is a beautiful and moving addition to for KING & COUNTRY's catalog of what has seemed like a decade of constant hits. It's quiet, gentle, and cinematic. A perfect honor to a mother who has led a family well through so many seasons of life. Many of us echo the lyric, "Words fall short, and I am sure, there will never be anyone like you." -Kevin McNeese
OpenAI's ChatGPT provided some assistance with this article. Assembled from the four corners of North America and many other corners in between, the NRTeam comprises staffers whose energy is equally dispersed towards loving and writing about the music they love.
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