“As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children” (1 Thessalonians 2:6b-7).
“She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She opens her mouth with wisdom , and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Her children rise up and call her blessed. Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:17,26,28, 30
“No man is poor who has a godly mother.” Abraham Lincoln.
Happy Mother’s Day! Mothers and grandmothers are special and have a purpose that God created them for before they were born.
Many of us have strong women in our line. I have said many times what a wonderful mother my six siblings and I were blessed with. My daughter, Shelly always said she got her strength from me and I now see that strength in her children.
We’ve had praying mothers—ones who gave so much love to us. That love has played a huge role in shaping us to be who we are today. Because of our mother’s unconditional love, we have been able to look at our strengths. weaknesses, fears, and failures. We recognize the areas where we have survived only by the grace of God.
I am thankful to have had a mother who taught her children through the way she lived life. She was perfect in my eyes–a wonderful Christian woman–humble, gentle, and full of such a deep love for her family. By the life she lived before us daily, we were taught how to love God and others. Although she is in heaven, I still miss her so much and am comforted by the fact that one day we will be reunited.
I want to share the following excerpts from the Wisdom Hunter’s Devotional, entitled “A Mother’s Love”, written by Boyd Bailey. It speaks to my heart and expresses my feeling about the Christ-like characteristics my mother possessed.
“A mother’s love reflects the love of the Lord, deep in its capacity and generous in its application. She awakens in the middle of the night to nurse a hungry infant or care for a sick child. Her intuition injects love at points of pain and in situations that require extensive encouragement. A mother’s love lingers long in conversation and understands with her sensitive heart. She loves, because Christ’s love compels her to love like Him.
Moreover, a mother’s love is loyal and longstanding. A child may be in trouble, but Mom is always close by, full of compassion and acceptance. Her love can be blind in its loyalty, but her offspring never doubts where they are welcome. Jesus was rejected by angry, jealous men and abandoned by His closest friends, but His mother was waiting with Him to the bitter end, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother…” (John 19:25a).
A mother’s love even has the capacity to be a mother to those who are not biologically her own. She opens her home, shares her food, gives her time, dispenses her wisdom, and encourages obedience to follow Christ. Paul experienced this. “Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother, who has been a mother to me, too” (Romans 16:13). Moms sometime mother greatness not their own.
Lastly, a mother’s love is gentle; the way God is gentle toward His children. He calls us to love and to lead like Jesus. Love serves people and does not rule with rigor. “God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey” (2 Timothy 2:24, TM).”
Thankfully, my mother was the type of person Mr. Bailey speaks of in his devotional. Knowing my Mother would welcome me home despite my failures and poor choices reinforced the assurance that I always had those earthly arms to run to. This is also how our heavenly Father is. He loves us despite our failures and bids us to come to Him for rest, safety, and comfort. For me, knowing that He loves me that much gives a peace deep within that nothing else can even come close to giving. I pray that each of you has experienced, or will experience this peace in your heart and life.
Prayer: Father, God. Thank You for the privilege of motherhood. Help each of us to continually look to You for guidance in our role as mothers and grandmothers. Lead us in love to be the kind of role models that You desire, so that we might gain the respect and love of our families. I pray this in the name of Jesus. Amen.
In Memory of Verdie Sophia Smith McDaniel, 11-25-1911 – 10-10-1990 and Shelly Rena Forston, 5-25-1967 – 11-13-2016
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