Reflecting on the Beauty of Having a Mother - iBelieve Truth - May 9, 2024
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.’” Proverbs 31:28-29
Our mothers are special people in our lives. They are the ones who carried us for nine months, watched us take our first steps, and taught us to say “dada” before “mama” (just to make our dads smile). Moms are special people for many reasons, and Mother’s Day is a great day to celebrate them. However, we should be celebrating our moms every day.
I have often wondered why moms only get one day of the year in recognition when they do so much throughout the year. I challenge you this year to go out of your way to do something special for your mom—not just on Mother’s Day. Whether your mom lives close or far away, try to send her something that you know will make her smile or stop by to make her day.
If there is something moms love more than anything, it is spending time with their children. My mom used to tell my sisters and me a story about her own mother. My grandmother used to visit my mom at her various summer jobs when she was a teenager just to simply see her and say hi. While my mom found these encounters embarrassing and unwarranted, I always thought they were very sweet and showed how much moms want to be with their children.
Moms are proud of our accomplishments, and they are on our side even when we fail. Having a mother is a beautiful thing because sometimes she turns out to be our best friend. Moms are people we can confide in, seek advice from, and know that our feelings are always heard when we come to them. While many people may have different feelings when it comes to their relationship with their moms, many can say that our moms have been with us even on our darkest days.
When my mother passed away, our family was faced with a question of what Bible passage would be placed on her grave. Proverbs 31 instantly was the passage that came into my mind; however, the entire Proverb is a bit too long for a gravestone. We ultimately chose Proverbs 31:25; however, I always thought Proverbs 31:28-29 was a better fit. I thought that it was a better choice because my mom truly did noble things that surpassed anything I had ever seen anybody ever do.
Our moms are strong, brilliant, and beautiful. We need to take time to pause and reflect on the beautiful blessing of having a mother. Proverbs 31:28-29 tells us the wife of noble character has children who arise and call her blessed, and her husband praises her. He tells her that many women do wonderful things, but she surpasses them all. When we look at our own moms, we see how much this is true for their lives as well.
A wife of noble character was certainly the mother that I had, and I pray your mother is the same. She most likely has been with you on your most joyous occasions as well as on your most sorrowful days. None of us are promised forever with our moms, yet we must do all we can to take advantage of the time we have with them. We are getting older, but we must not forget our mothers are getting older too.
I’m the same age now that my mom would have been when she had me. I can’t even imagine having a child at this age, much less taking care of two older children in addition. The strength with which my mother held herself together throughout her life has never ceased to amaze me. The things she accomplished go beyond anything I could ever do with my life.
I’m thankful for my mother in ways I could never even articulate. I’m blessed to have had her for my mother, even if it was only for a short time. God has blessed us with mothers and we would be wise to appreciate them while they are in our lives. It is true that our moms make mistakes, but we have to remember that they are humans like us. We all make mistakes and we all deserve grace.
Mother’s Day is approaching, and now is the time to reflect on the true gift of having a mother. If your mother is still alive, spend time with her. Even if she lives far away, take the trip to go see her. If your mother has passed away, allow Mother’s Day to be a day you grieve. Remember all of the fond memories you have of your mom and allow them to replace your tears of sadness with tears of joy.
Dear Jesus, as we are approaching Mother’s Day, I want to reflect on the beauty of having my mom. You have given me such a wonderful mother and I thank you for her. She has been with me every day and knows me better than anyone else in my family. Please help me to return all of the love she has given me over the years. I want to make sure she knows she is fully loved and known. Thank you, Lord. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.
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