This weekend is Mother’s Day.
Motherhood, what a job!
or is it?
Perhaps the word job is not the correct word to describe motherhood. The word "job" brings with it the notion of work, pay, task, duty, and responsibility. Motherhood certainly has these elements, but, at its core, motherhood is more than a job. At that deeper level, motherhood is emotional, spiritual, purposeful, meaningful, passionate, intense, and not for the weak.
Motherhood is bestowed by Heaven above to guide, form, fashion,
and direct the life of another.
James E. Faust said,
“I affirm the profound belief that God’s greatest creation is womanhood. I also believe that there is no greater good in all the world than motherhood. The influence of a mother in the lives of her children is beyond calculation.”
Abraham Lincoln said,
“no man is poor who has a Godly mother.”
Washington Irving said,
“A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsel to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.”
God himself speaks of motherhood as a metaphor for the way He loves and cares for his children: “as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” (Isa. 66:13)
Motherhood is the conduit of God’s creation “for you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Ps. 139:13)
Motherhood is worthy of honor as children are commanded to “honor your father and mother.” (Eph. 6:1-3)
Without question, God holds motherhood as a high calling and in high esteem and so should we!
As we think about motherhood, three prominent mothers in scripture come to mind: Eve, Jochebed, and Mary. Looking at their lives and stories, we discover why motherhood is not a job but a calling.
EVE
Motherhood is a calling to life
The name Eve means “life or living thing”. Eve would become the mother of all the living (Genesis 3:20). And while Motherhood certainly happens as a woman gives physical life to a child, Motherhood is not only about giving physical life. There are mothers who have adopted children, thereby providing their adopted child a new life through adoption. There are spiritual mothers, Godly mothers, who provide emotional and spiritual direction so that their children can live the abundant life Christ offers (John 10:10). Motherhood is the calling to give life, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to those under her care.
JOCHEBED
Motherhood is a calling to courageous faith
Jochebed was the mother of Moses (see Exodus 1 and 2). Through great courage, she did not submit to the demands of Pharoah and hid him for 3 months. Doing so was risking her own life and the life of her other children. If she was discovered, she would be killed and they would become orphans. Through courageous faith and against all odds, she put Moses in a basket pitched with tar and floated him down the Nile River. Her act of courageous faith would set into motion the plan of God to redeem his people. Jochebed’s name in Hebrew means “Jehovah Glorified.” Glorified used here means to “make glorious.” Motherhood is a calling of courageous faith that glorifies God.
MARY
Motherhood is a calling to resiliency
There are many things that could be said about Mary, the mother of Jesus. A young virgin visited by an angel of the Lord, being told that she would become pregnant and give birth to the Savior of the world (see Luke 1:26-38). Can you imagine how she must have felt about this great weight she would now carry? There is a weight that motherhood carries unlike any other. Certainly faith, trust, humility, and obedience could describe her, but intertwined with all of these descriptions, we see her is resiliency. How resilient she had to be to face the ridicule and rejection of others. How resilient she had to be to travel to Bethlehem only to give birth in a stall with animals. How resilient she had to be to watch Jesus grow, knowing his future path to a cross. Yes, motherhood requires resiliency, and Mary the mother of Jesus is a picture of this beautiful calling for mothers.
As you head toward Mother’s day, would you take a moment and be thankful for your mom. We hope this Mother’s day will be (and should be) filled with celebration, gifts, meals, phone calls, words of I love you, thank you, and more.
Your mother may not have been perfect, and she may not have always done it right, but she did give you life. She was courageous and resilient in more ways than you know and in ways you probably never saw! Motherhood called her to hold onto unconditional love, live a sacrificial life, full of compassion and care while dreaming big dreams and praying big prayers for you. Motherhood is a fierce calling so be thankful and honor her this Mother’s Day!
For all the mothers reading this today, may you be blessed,
celebrated, and highly favored!
Happy Mother’s Day!
We’d love for you to leave a comment below about why you are thankful for your mother. Perhaps how you’ve seen her life-giving, courageous faith, and resiliency (or other qualities) in action.
Dale and Jena Forehand are the founders of Stained Glass Ministries. They offer conferences and resources to build real relationships. To find out more about their amazing grace story of marriage, divorce, and re-marriage to one another visit their website www.daleandjena.com. You can also find them on Facebook and Instagram as @daleandjena