Sunday, May 9, 2021

Mothers are a Gift from God

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers (whether by blood or heart) who have touched the life of a child.  Today is a special day to celebrate all those women who have taken on the responsibility of loving, leading, and guiding someone so they can become productive contributors to society.  I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the more I appreciate all the lessons my mother and so many others taught me along the way (Prov 31:26).  How to be kind even when I wasn’t feeling that way.  How to be honest without destroying someone.  How to love even when it’s hard.  How to fight for things I believe in without making war.  

Real mothers are amazing people.  They are more than a person who gave birth.  They nurture and direct and want what’s best for you, even when they are sometimes unsure of what exactly that looks like.  I heard a mother recently say everything to raising a child is found in the bible.  That struck me as odd, but when I sat with it a moment, I realized that just as God gave us the instructions for life in the Word, it made perfect sense that he would give parents guidance there as well.  I’m not sure how many mothers actually use the Bible to inform them how to raise their children, but mine surely did.  My mother loved me, but she set expectations and then held me to them.  She believed that if you spared the rod, you would spoil the child (Prov 13:24).  Yes, some of you who know me would say, you’re still a little spoiled and that is true.  However, in the midst of the love and even sometimes indulgence, there was also discipline (I got a few spankings) and lessons on self-control and generosity and kindness (Gal 5:22-23).  

I was allowed many things I thought I wanted, but always with the understanding that it was because I was so loved and not because I was better than anyone else or because I’d done something to earn it.  That resonates with me now.  It showed me how God loves us.  He gives us different gifts to use and to glorify Him because he loves us so much, unconditionally.  He doesn’t give them to us because we deserve them.  He gives them because He knows us better than anyone and He sees who we really are…..whether we ever walk in it or not.  He loves us that much.  He created mothers to love their children that way, too (1 Corin 16:14).  They know and see things in their children, the child can’t see and the really good ones, speak God’s Word over their children.  After all God’s Word is true and if we can speak life and death (Prov 18:21), we should always speak life.  

While I don’t have children of my own, I am regularly involved with the children of others.  I love kids.  I love most things about them – their curiosity, their humor, their insight, their honesty, and so many more facets of them.  But more than anything, I want to see them become who God has called them to be.  The bible says to train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it (Prov 22:6). That’s what my mother gave me.  Even when I was in college and I strayed, I didn’t stray far.  

While my mom hasn’t been perfect (but who has), she has done her best.  I honor her for all the work she put in for me and my siblings and my nieces and nephews.  She is still putting in time with her great, grandchildren.  She is putting in time for her nieces and nephews.  She’ll give advice when asked (and even when she’s not).  She’ll give whatever she has to those in need.  She might even do some baking for those who ask.  She has been blessed to be a blessing to so many and she has set the example for me (Prov 31:28, 31).  I love her for all the things she is and all that God made her to be.  

If you are not close to your mother (or father), I challenge you to take steps to rectify that (Exodus 20:12).  Remember mothers are human, too, and we all make mistakes.  Take time to make it right...Forgive! (Eph 4:32)  None of us know how much time we have and no matter what has happened…..Mothers are still a gift – don’t waste it.


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