Happy Mother’s Day to all you mother’s and grandmother’s
out there! Surely motherhood is one of
God’s greatest gifts to us. Mankind was
told from the very beginning to “be fruitful
and multiply” (Genesis 1:28,) and Eve was the “mother of all living” (Genesis 3:20.) Proverbs declares “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother…” But perhaps the greatest verses relating to
motherhood and womanhood are those of (what some would call overused,) the Proverbs
31 woman:“…Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.”
Our mothers are blessed
creatures: feeding us, clothing us, protecting us from the evils of the world,
yet still teaching us how to defend ourselves; and preparing us for adulthood,
to be productive members of society, and to fear and serve the Lord. She is nurturer, doctor, nurse, teacher, cab
driver, cook, housekeeper, homework helper, clothing washer, and cheerleader.
Sometimes she has the help of a loving husband and father to her children;
sometimes, she has to be the sole bread-winner and disciplinarian. She does it all not because she has to, but because she wants to: she asks for
nothing in return, and only wants to see you achieve your potential and become
a happy, responsible human being.
No one can comfort us quite like
our mother: when we were floating gently in her womb, we knew we were protected
and loved. When she rocked us as infants
and toddlers, we remembered that love.
And when she picked us up from across town at 3 a.m. (when we were supposed
to be elsewhere,) we knew she would continue to protect us, regardless of the
disappointment she expressed or the punishment she doled out. We may not realize it while we’re young, but
when we are older, we discover something else: she is our best friend.
So we raise a glass of our
favorite (non-alcoholic) beverage, to you, Moms, and we are thankful that you
chose to be our mothers: that you chose LIFE.
“…I will bless
her, and she shall be a mother…” Genesis 17:16
