Each of us has or had a mom who carried us under her heart and gave us life. When I hear this word, I immediately remember my parents, but my wife also became a mom, received this lifelong status and now clearly reveals to me what my parents faced, how much love and care they showed to me, and how much they gave to their children, guided by love.
In our world it's not customary to thank parents, although they all wait for when their children will at least appreciate something and somehow show their gratitude. But our gratitude is already manifested in our children, whom the Lord gave us, and who aren't going to thank us for the good we do to them.
Why did the Lord choose specifically woman to become the mother of His children who will appear in the world as the fruit of their parents' love? It's difficult to say, but this was God's plan and design at creation. In this union the Creator wanted to clearly reveal to the entire Universe something greater than relationships between people. He managed to lift the veil of Divine relationships. When the Lord creates someone in His image and likeness, He lays into this creation such incomprehensible depth for study that an inquisitive mind can make constant discoveries throughout all Eternity.
Unfortunately, sin and the fallen state of the world reduced the role of mother to conveyor production and hid her in a distant dusty corner, not attaching special significance to birth. But all Divine Forces are involved in this process, preparation is underway for the appearance in the world of a new soul, for whom the precious blood of our Savior was shed. According to God's plan every person is born to live eternally and never die, and the mother becomes the first teacher, mentor, nourisher of this little creation.
Visiting camp meetings, I love to observe mothers, especially those who have babies. They so want to engage in their favorite activity, rest from everything, participate in public life, listen to useful seminars, but they're tied to their children by invisible threads, and all their attention and all their hearing, and they themselves are there where their sons and daughters are. And even if the child is under the supervision of other people and in good hands, mom's heart is always in that place, ready to come, comfort, instruct and give all of herself if circumstances require it. And all mothers without exception behave this way.
A mother's work is performed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without weekends and vacations. And how can such an intense schedule be evaluated? But the most interesting thing is that many girls and women dream of this job on legal grounds. Already from childhood it's interesting for them to play with dolls, care for them and show maternal attention to their toys. This is already laid into woman, and this cannot be taken away.
A believing mother is a special blessing for children and for her husband. She closely cooperates with the One who gave her such an inheritance and gives her patience and wisdom to raise worthy people not only for this world, but also for the Eternal Kingdom. How can the work of a believing woman be evaluated, who devotes all of herself to serving children, to teach them to love each other and fear God?
Mom is not only the woman who gave birth to her child, but she can also become one who decided to adopt or take under guardianship, at her expense, those whom no one else cares about. And it happens that responsibility for another's soul is much greater than for one's own native children.
Mom is the person who is always nearby and will always come to help in a difficult moment, leaving all her important affairs, because she cannot live and think differently. Although at some moment she has to let her children go so they become independent, they don't stop being children, and her heart is always with them.
What is mom in God's eyes? She is the direct representative of God for her children. It's through her that the outpouring of God's love and care occurs into the life of these little creations. Through touches, tenderness and affectionate speech she gives her children the meaning of life, assuring them that love exists and there's much of it with God. It's she who becomes the first teacher in the School of God's Love. It's she who clearly shows her household members how the Lord loves them. But the Bible teaches us that God's love is higher than maternal love, so we have somewhere to grow. We read Is. 49:15-16: "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me." But however great the Lord is in His love for His children, this in no way makes mother's love something of little significance. It's God who made mother who she is, and laid into her the gift of motherhood, which remains with her forever.
Although sin damaged the mind of some women who refuse their children or live for themselves, allowing their babies to somehow grow up, this exception cannot be a criterion for all mothers.
God gave us His commandment to honor father and mother and through this command taught us to arrange correct life priorities, always remembering thanks to whom we appeared in this world. And in old age this honoring should grow into care for people who cared for you all their lives.
Mom is a wise friend who will always gladly share everything she has and give more than needed. I'm always amazed by a mother's ability to feel her children's mood and guess about everything that happens in their hearts. They can even feel and see their children's sins when no one else knows about it.
But the most interesting thing is that with her influence and wisdom mother makes from her child such a person as he will have to live his entire subsequent life. With her instructions, care and love she forms his way of thinking, his character and determines his spiritual values.
Many people, getting to Eternity, will understand that they ended up there not by chance, but thanks to the persistent work, constant prayers and unchanging care of their mothers.
When the church calls for public prayers, the first thing all women pray about is their children, if such exist, and only then all other prayer needs are voiced. A mother simply cannot think otherwise, children are her priority.
If you ask any person to draw tenderness, everyone will draw a mom with a baby in her arms. But the Lord also promised to carry us in His arms and care for us until old age (Is.46:3-4), but He doesn't diminish the mother's role in the life and influence on her children, but gives her strength, patience and wisdom for all time.
It's worth noting that if your wife is a mother, then it's necessary to support her authority as a mother in her children's eyes and love her with all your soul, giving by this relationship to your children an example of how to relate to mom. And children will simply have nothing left but to imitate you in this love and do the same, constantly gladdening their dear mommy's heart.
Mom is a gift from God that we don't choose.
Questions for Reflection
Please read 1Kings.2:19; Eph.6:1-2; Ex.20:12; 21:15,17; Gen.3:20; Prov.15:20; 20:20; 28:24; Matt.15:4-6; Luke.1:42-45 in light of this lesson. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind? What did you understand from this lesson? Who is mom? What does it mean to honor father and mother? Who is the closest person for newlyweds? For what period does mom become mom, and when does her mission as mom end? How many moms can there be in a person's life? How does mom differ from dad? What is the mother's mission before God? Why are not all mothers such and cripple their children's lives? Who is our Heavenly mother? Why shouldn't one deify Jesus's mother and worship her? Is being a mom an honorable duty in Heaven's eyes or something ordinary that shouldn't be paid attention to?