Articles
Mother
Mother
A mother is a high and noble occupation! God throughout His Book, encourages us to value and hold in high esteem this woman. Proverbs concludes with the acknowledgement, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.’ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates” (Pro. 31:28-31). What a remarkable thing to consider: the Creator of the universe takes notice of this incredible creature.
Sadly, in our culture she has been defamed, disregard, and denigrated to a subpar place, but such is as far from the truth as possible. The old adage, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world,” is much more in-line with the facts. I prefer Steve Wariner’s take on motherhood, as opposed to the world’s sick and twisted perspective. Indeed, “There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas.” I’ve seen many Christian mamas, who would make the cut. Further still, I prefer God’s take on motherhood. “A woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Pro. 31:30). Praised by whom, we may ask? Proverbs ends, much in the same way it began, “The fear of the Lord, is the beginning of knowledge” (Pro. 1:7). I think this “praise,” due her is two-fold: All those around her, should turn to her in “praise” of her choice to be wise (cf. Pro. 1:7; 31:28f), but that she will also be “praised” by God as well.
Take notice of some of the ways we traditionally describe this person. We call her motherly; that is such an appropriate adjective to describe her. It reveals her purpose, her intentions, and the work she is seeking to accomplish; all of which is reflected in her spiritually, as well as physically. She is mothering those around her to be more like God, as she strives to be. You can’t mention “mother,” without some thought of those she is mothering. She is a uniquely selfless being. With every thought and action, she is reflecting upon how this will impact those whom God has entrusted to her. I’ve yet to meet a mother who is not a planner — she has tomorrow on her mind. Yet, even the thought of tomorrow is laid upon her by the needs of others. Homemaker, a word that would not exist were it not for the woman, and even better the mother. A home is exactly what she makes. A man may build a house, but it take a woman to make it a home, and better still a mother to fill it. While she carries herself with burdens and pressures, from both the world and her duties, she does so with dignity and devotion. We don’t ask much of her; just be everywhere all at once and see to everyone’s needs — no big deal. A demand that few men, if any, could carry. As God’s wisdom reveals, there is no creature on earth more suited to achieve such a high and lofty goal. “And the Lord God said, 'It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him’” (Gen. 2:18). Even after surveying all of creation, the situation was still the same, “But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him” (Gen. 2:20). There is no being better equipped than the one God designed for the job. Paul echoes aspects of this when he tells older woman to instruct younger women be such a person (see Titus 2:3-5).
What a high and noble occupation!
