Category: Mother’s Day

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Motherhood as Skull-Crushing Calling

Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ

A brief reading through the book of Judges places women and mothers at a crucial point in redemptive history. Unlike the stereotypical vision of motherhood offered by radical feminists in our day—that of unhappy women cooking and offering some tidbits of domestic tranquility and nothing more—the Biblical understanding of women, particularly mothers, is that of a bold and musical class of humans.

In Judges 4, Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, and most certainly a mother in Israel, found herself in a unique place of history. She judged God’s people into victory when the men were nowhere to be found. And that little episode guides us through one of my favorite scenes of domestic tranquility in the Bible.

19 And Sisera said to her, “Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty.” So she opened a skin of milk and gave him a drink and covered him. 20 And he said to her, “Stand at the opening of the tent, and if any man comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say, ‘No.’ ” 21 But Jael the wife of Heber took a tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in his temple.

This, of course, leads Deborah, in Judges 5, to compose a song of victory, which concludes with these words:

“So may all your enemies perish, Lord!
    But may all who love you be like the sun
    when it rises in its strength.”

This is undoubtedly not how our culture views motherhood. But the Bible—always eager to overthrow cultural definitions—views motherhood as the capacity to follow God’s design and destroy an enemy or three when the time is ripe. Motherhood means virtue and productivity, and it means that the household songs are songs of blessedness.

Biblical mothers crush God’s enemies, compose songs in honor of crushing God’s enemies, and it was a virgin mother who gave birth to the crusher of all enemies, Jesus Christ.

If there is ever a season for courageous motherhood who understand their domestic role as beautifiers, their cultural roles as exemplifiers of the good, and their liturgical role as participants in the holy, that time is now.

Our desire at Providence is to see mothers who love the home indeed but who make the home a place of refuge for the weary and sabbath for their offspring and their husbands. Let the world deride motherhood as archaic, and we will praise motherhood as superlative; let the world call mothers to treasure life away from home, and we will call women to their rightful places as queens of the garden; let the world form their worldviews of mothers through the lens of their liberated warriors in Hollywood, and we will laugh at them for they shall see their empires crumbling by the simple deeds of godly mothers.

May your days be blessed, mothers of Providence, may your strength never cease, and may your hearts meditate on the songs of Deborah and Jael all your days.

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In Praise of Mothers

On occasion, I wish to take Wednesdays to offer gratitude for obscure causes and cares that are often overlooked by society. I began my endeavor last week by praising editors–that bastion of grammarians eagerly waiting to make a mockery when we mistake the “i” before “e” except after “c.”

Today, I wish to take the obscurity lane even farther and praise a particular kind of motherly act. Of course, mothers need to be praised every day with flower bouquets and assortments of coffee beans. But here, I am praising mothers who do something quite absurd, and most do it without expectation of gratitude. It’s the kind of activity that does not make it to the resume, but one for which I find compelling as a humanitarian aid of the greatest proportion. I am legitimately interested in the strange task of praising mothers who clean vomit and other Adamic side-effects from floors and other odd places.

I know, I know. How bizarre, sir! Certainly! But pray tell me: who is going to praise these godly saints on that last day for doing these tasks? Jesus will. And if he will acknowledge their works before the nations at the last day, why should we refuse to do so now?

Remember the text in Matthew 25 when Jesus is posing a series of questions concerning the service of the people. He says that the people saw him hungry and thirsty and naked. And the people answered: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?” Then Jesus replied: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’” That application is not simply to some charitable cause of choice we find appealing in society. That application goes directly to the heart of mothering. Mothers of little children are daily confronted by the naked, hungry, and thirsty. They are daily providing the kind of physical protection that children are virtually incapable of providing themselves.

And what do they do especially in this season of sickness for their children? They uplift them from their pitiful looks as they aimlessly seek comfort, as their little mouths are dry from throwing up and excommunicating other things, their bodies feeble from barely eating. Yes, I wish to praise moms for this remarkable act of self-sacrifice for the cause of taking a weak child and resurrecting his strength and stamina to life again.

In a day when people will likely be attuned to “nobler” things, I wish to praise moms that clean the unthinkable; who bend their knees to comfort little children besieged (“i” before the “e”) by post-Fall pain, and who do it often without the slightest complaint. We honor you and thank you for your work! For as much as you have done these acts to the least of these–little children–you have done it unto our Lord.

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Mother’s Day and Child-Birth

“The seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the servant.”

It was through the seed of a woman that Messiah came and bound evil. Our hope did not appear out of nothing. The Virgin Mary conceived our hope. In I Timothy, we have the cryptic words of St. Paul, who said, “Women will be saved through childbearing–if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” This is a re-telling of Genesis 3: Women will be saved through the new Adam birthed from a mother’s womb. However, this salvation comes through faith, love, and holiness.

Moreover, I cannot think of a richer way to express the self-giving nature of motherhood, except through this triad of faith, love, and holiness. A mother’s faith is her salvation. Her love is her armor, and her holiness is her perseverance. Salvation comes through the glory of self-giving, even in the act of childbirth. It would demand the faith and love and holiness of millions of women through history to have confidence that a Messiah would arrive on earth through one of them.

We live in a day where motherhood is despised. We take a day to honor them, but truly what meager attempt to honor those who offer so much? Being a mother is now considered by many to be an interference in world economy. The United Nations began a decade ago an assault on motherhood saying that having children is keeping women from finding their fullest potential. As the world, the flesh, and devil go so go the United Nations. We need to realize that in our day any role that has been established by God will be confronted by evil, and such is the role of motherhood in our society.

So how shall we then live on this Mother’s day?

First, we live honoring our mothers. We rise and call her blessed day after day after day. Children, if you want to live a long and fruitful life, honor your mother with your words and actions.

Secondly, we care for our aging mothers. We have seen several examples at Providence of sons and daughters caring for their aging mothers until her last breath. This selfless act is refreshing in an age where many mothers die alone in their homes or nursing homes.

Thirdly, I encourage those of you whose children are no longer at home to function in a motherly role towards our young, soon-to-be mothers and wives. If there is ever a time when young ladies need the wisdom of our mature ladies, it is now.

Fourthly, for those who grieve today because of the recent/past death of a mother or a mother/figure, we grieve with you. When the ancient Israelites grieved the loss of a loved one, they told stories; be refreshed by the memories of your mothers.

Fifthly, for those who grew up without mothers, this can be a difficult day as they watch everyone celebrating their moms.  On this day, find comfort in the love of God. He spreads his wings over you as a mother cares for her own.

Finally, let’s together honor mothers and their love of Christ and the Church, our heavenly mother. Let’s sing their praises and shout at the mountaintops. Providence Church desires to be a place where diaper changing, doing the dishes, educating, singing while cooking a meal, writing a letter of thanks, kissing and hugging children, disciplining children, equipping younger mothers are all activities that are praised and not mocked. Happy Mother’s Day: Your labors in the Lord are not in vain!

 

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The Forgotten Mothers

Some years ago, I came across this list for Mother’s Day from Amy Young. I have used it several times in exhortations, but I don’t think I ever used it on the blog. Whereas Mother’s Day carries a very festive tone to it, I am always reminded of the forgotten mothers who are rarely acknowledged on that day. Mothers, who silently weep, while others rejoice. We rejoice with every mom, but we also add our encouragement and hope to those moms who grieve for many reasons. The Lord’s richest blessings be upon you all.

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, we walk with you

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

And to those who are pregnant with new life, we anticipate with you.

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An Exhortation for Mother’s Day

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot begin to think of mothers without speaking of our first mother, Eve. Eve was given the task of beautifying Eden. Her duty was to make Eden a place where God would dwell forever. The first task of a mother is to consider her actions in light of the future. In other words, in what ways am I preparing my home, my labors, and my offspring to exalt the name of Yahweh? The problem of Genesis 3 can be defined as a problem of a poor eschatology. The first lesson mothers need to understand is that the future matters. This is why mothers are called to live in such a way that influences her children and her children’s children.

On this Mother’s Day, Children must bless their mothers! Husbands must praise their wives! A good queen beautifies the home, and makes the king look respectable and honorable in his kingdom, and at the gates of the city. A good queen makes the name of Yahweh known in her garden. A good queen awakens to hear her children call her blessed!

As mothers get older and gain more and more biblical wisdom, they become wise matriarchs in communities. People begin to say: “Go to her. Seek her counsel.” But this does not come easily. Mothers need to be good theologians. They need the rhythm of resurrection to grow in wisdom. They need to be constantly reminded that God’s grace is strengthening and building them up in their darkest moments; when they are overwhelmed by their duties. Mothers as a New Eve need to embrace the resurrection as a model for life. They need to so cherish the empty tomb that they realize that their perspective on life now and the future is shaped by it.

Christian mothers in one way set the rhythm for the rest of the world. C.S. Lewis put it this way:

“To be a mother is a woman’s greatest vocation in life.  She is a partner with God.  No being has a position of such power and influence.  She holds in her hands the destiny of nations, for to her comes the responsibility and opportunity of molding the nation’s citizens.”

Mothers, do not ever allow someone to say that your role is not valued. You are co-heirs of grace. Your children are arrows that pierce the kingdoms of darkness, because you trained them to be great warriors. For every diaper you change, for every alphabet letter you teach, for every kiss, for every song, for every meal you make, for every joy you instill in your children and others in your community, therein is the testimony of God’s grace in the world. So on this day,

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, we walk with you.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

And to those who are pregnant with new life, we anticipate with you.[1]

Moms, you are God’s gift to the Church, and to your families. Be encouraged in your calling. We need your wisdom, and the world needs it also. Happy Mother’s Day! And may the God of all peace sustain and nourish you with His grace now and forever. Amen.

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Exhortation: Mother’s Day and the Rhythm of Resurrection

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is Mother’s Day! And this is cause to consider the role of mothers.

We cannot begin to think of mothers without speaking of our first mother, Eve. Eve fell because she refused to be a true mother. Eve did not consider her actions in light of the future. Eve had a poor eschatology. She was an existentialist by nature; only the here and now mattered to her. The first lesson mothers need to understand is that the future matters. Mothers are New Eves’ in Christ. This is why mothers are called to live in such a way that influences her children and her children’s children.

Mothers are also warriors. They are defenders of their children. Mothers will kill to defend their little ones. This is inherent in mothers. God has created them to defend the defenseless. They not only nurse, but nurture.

Mothers bless and are blessed. Children, bless them! Husbands, praise them! A good queen beautifies the home, and makes the king look respectable and honorable in his kingdom, and at the gates of the city.

Mothers are also teachers. As they get older and gain more and more biblical wisdom, they become wise matriarchs in communities. People begin to say: “Go to her. Seek her counsel.” But this does not come easily. Mothers need the rhythm of resurrection to grow in wisdom. They need to be constantly reminded that God’s grace is strengthening and building them up in their darkest moments; when they are overwhelmed by their duties; mothers need to embrace the resurrection as a model for life. They need to so cherish the empty tomb that they realize that their perspective on life is shaped by it.

Christian Mothers, you are setting the rhythm for the rest of the world. You are establishing with your lives a pattern for the world to follow. Do not ever allow someone to say that your role is not valued. You are co-heirs of grace. Your children are arrows that pierce the kingdoms of darkness, because you trained them to be great warriors. For every diaper you change, for every alphabet letter you teach, for every kiss, for every song, for every meal you make, for every joy you instill in your children and others in your community, therein is the testimony of God’s grace in the world.

You are God’s gift to the Church, and to your families. Be encouraged in your calling. We need your wisdom, and the world needs it also. Happy Mother’s Day! And may the God of all peace sustain and nourish you with His grace now and forever. Amen.

Prayer: Teach us, O Lord, to honor and delight in mothers. May Your church encourage them in their callings, help in exercising their role, and may You exalt them in due time that they may receive the crown of life through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.