Believing father and mother are irreplaceable in their families and each of these parents has a special God-given purpose in the work of raising their children for God. Each of them contributes to the formation of a complete personality and worthy character for life, not only in this world, but also among Heavenly beings.
The father passes to children those many qualities and skills of his soul that only a man can have. And the mother is that representative of Divine qualities of unconditional love that the father cannot give, despite all his desire.
The very first such distinction is carrying the fetus in the womb and breastfeeding. A man, by his physiology, will never take this place.
During the feeding of an infant, the mother not only gives the child necessary nutrition, but at the same time she lays the foundations of psychological and emotional health, gives lessons of tenderness, comfort, compassion and care, instills in the psyche of the growing little person a sense of security and comfort. All these skills are embedded in every female nature and God's power awakens them and brings them into action when the first children are born. And sometimes, women themselves are surprised by what new feelings begin to overcome them during childbirth.
When you ask someone what tenderness is and what it can be compared to, the first thing that comes to mind for all respondents is maternal love and care for a nursing baby. Although a person may not remember what it was like in his case, but observing this process in the lives of other women, he understands how close this is to him.
The concept of "maternal love" has taken such firm root in every culture that it speaks for itself about the difference between mother and father and what is more in her. Her unconditional love forms in children the concept of God's mercy and grace. And it will not be difficult for them to understand how the Lord has mercy on a sinner if they had this example in their home.
The mother's emotional closeness forms a basic sense of security and the child knows where to run in case of anxiety or danger.
It is characteristic for a woman to show compassion for the concerns of her little ones, sensitivity to their needs, understanding of their fears and experiences. She is very attentive to everything that concerns her children and to what happens in their mood and well-being. Many such feelings are not characteristic of fathers and they approach children's cough or runny nose much more simply, believing that children should be hardened from a young age and accustomed to a Spartan lifestyle, regardless of the latter's displeasure.
The mother knows how to convince her husband that little children need special treatment and one should not experiment with their health and endurance.
If you ask a father to walk the baby, he will take the child and necessary toys for the walk and will not burden himself with anything else. The mother, however, will pack a bag in which she will put drinks and food, spare diapers and clothes, necessary creams and wipes, and much of what might be needed in an emergency. And the child knows perfectly well whom to go to in case of thirst or wet pants.
The mother knows how to listen and delve into all children's needs and concerns. She is very attentive to all the experiences of her household and always finds the right answer, or words of support, comfort or inspiration. Even despite poor health, she will always find strength to help and serve those who are in her power.
The mother's patience and meticulousness help her deeply understand children's needs and solve many issues at a deep level, which is not characteristic of many men.
Who is the first to react to the noise or cry of an infant at night? Of course, mom. She is able to hear and distinguish her child's voice from a thousand other voices and immediately determine whether he is in danger and what he needs at this time.
A woman's ability to create coziness and comfort in her place of residence and stay is not characteristic of men. Her love for cleanliness and order, for aesthetics and warmth, are a natural way of feminine thinking. And children learn this quality from the life and example of their mother.
It is characteristic for a woman to resolve many conflicts through dialogue and understanding, through gentleness in settling disagreements. This teaches her children tolerance and a wiser approach in solving many problems.
The mother is constantly with small children, not letting them out of her sight for a second. She perfectly hears all the noises made in the house, being able to distinguish danger from games, and immediately reacts to suspicious silence, wanting to understand where her beloved child has climbed once again.
The mother teaches children to rejoice in what is happening here and now, to enjoy life, to invent spontaneous games and to value their parents' company.
Mom, through games and all kinds of activities, very actively participates in forming children's creative thinking and creative approach to life. This greatly helps young students to invent many things and practice new ideas.
The mother's entire life is her continuous sacrifice for the good and happiness of her children and her family. She often forgets about her needs and desires and lives for someone else. This is noticeable during meals, where mom always sits at the table last, when everyone has everything.
By her delicacy and femininity, the mother teaches children the culture of communication, correct expression of their thoughts and feelings, competent construction of speech. She gives lessons on the distinction between good and evil and instills in children sensitivity to other people's needs and understanding of the meaning of any communication.
Hygiene of soul and body also lies at the foundation of maternal care for children. She instills in consciousness the first laws of cleanliness and hygiene, teaching that face and hands, body and clothes always need to be washed and put in order if they get dirty.
We are not surprised when we see neat and clean people. And this is not their own merit, but the merit of those mothers who instilled these skills from childhood and instilled wisdom and love for hygiene.
It is characteristic for women to simultaneously think about many problems and engage in many tasks. By her flexibility in approach to many questions, she teaches children not to fear an abundance of tasks, but to tackle their solution and bring started things to completion. She patiently explains how to manage and how to properly plan one's time.
As a rule, mom is the founder of all family rituals, traditions and holidays, bringing her emotional position and support into this. This brings all family members closer and accustoms them to value these establishments and through them show mutual love and respect for each other.
The father, by his love and wisdom, can earn authority in his family, but only his wise wife can affirm and build the father's authority.
A believing mother teaches children how to properly deal with anger, fear, irritation, sadness and offenses, giving examples from Biblical narratives and drawing strength for overcoming these problems in prayer to God.
The mother is not only a teacher in life matters, but also a spiritual mentor to her children in matters of faith. By her personal example, she lays truths in children's consciousness that God must be trusted in everything, that all questions can be resolved with Him, and one can plan their future.
Questions for Reflection
Please read Luke 2:51; Isa. 49:15; 66:13; Prov. 1:8-9; 6:20-21; 31:6; 14:1; 31:24-31; 2 Tim. 1:5; 1 Thess. 2:7; Ps. 113:9; Lev. 19:3; Titus 2:4-5, in light of this lesson. What other verses from the Bible came to your mind? What did you understand from this lesson? How does maternal love differ from paternal love? How does the example of maternal love help children understand God's mercy and grace? Why is the mother's emotional closeness an important factor for forming the child's personality? How does the mother manage to combine multiple tasks and maintain attention to the needs of all family members? Why is the mother associated with the concept of home comfort and warmth? Why does the mother's patience play a key role in upbringing? What benefit do children receive from maternal flexibility in approach to problem solving? How does the example of maternal service help children grow up to be loving and caring people? What should you do if you understand that your life does not correspond to what you read in this lesson? Can a father replace a mother for children and give them what is usually received from a mother? How can one become a proper mother if there was no appropriate example and influence in my life?