“Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise—that it may go well with you…” Ephesians 6:2

 In America, we celebrate Mother’s Day on the second Sunday in May.  It’s a day when we remember our mothers, give them a gift and maybe prepare a meal for them.  Sometimes it’s breakfast in bed cooked by the children of the house.  Many of us have fond memories of growing up with mother.  She always knew best and would go to any length to protect us.  A good mother is a gift from God and should be thanked and praised for her guidance in our lives.  I have seen mothers in all parts of the world who have that God given instinct to love, care and protect their babies.  Adam gave his wife’s name Eve, because she was “the mother of all the living!”  Genesis 3:20.

Some children are not so fortunate!  Some grow up in orphanages and are always looking for a family.  My oldest daughter was unable to have children, so God gave her the desire to adopt, 10 of them!  Seven were from China, one left by the roadside, one left in an apartment building, one abandoned by her parents because she had a life-threatening disease that could not be fixed.  One was from Azerbijan, a little Muslim boy left at an orphanage by his mother when he was 5 years old.  But God had His eye on each child and brought them to America in miraculous ways.  They each have a story of God’s protecting care.  My daughter loves the verse, “He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children,” Psalm 113:9.

Those of us who have borne babies know what a gift from God each child is.  Hearing the babies’ first cry is a blessing and relief, knowing the baby is alive and breathing.  The responsibility of raising the children often falls on the mother.  I often thought of the verse when my children were young, “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother,” Proverbs 29:15. NKJV  It’s a great responsibility to raise children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, but what a blessing when they grow up and have Christ-like values!

There are some women, single or married, who have never borne a child.  I love to see them involved in teaching children in Sunday School, or in any area where they can be a blessing to a boy or girl.  There are “spiritual” mothers who are instrumental “in encouraging young women to love their husbands and children, to be kind and busy at home” like the woman in Titus 2.  I thank the Lord for spiritual mothers who came into my life after my mother died.  They helped me to be a keeper at home, to love my husband and guide my household.  Single women can play a big part in being the fun “Aunt” for nieces and nephews, teaching them the ways of God and affirming their parents.

God has given us many “mothers!”  We can take the opportunity to honor them this week, even if it’s just a homemade card and a wild flower!

Your Friend, Jean