Tomorrow, I will be preaching at a little country church for Mother's Day. The people of this church have become very dear to us, like our own family. I thought that this would be a good way to organize my thoughts for my sermon, and share them with anyone out there who is still interested.
The Bible is fairly quiet on the topic of motherhood. It speaks of good parenting and family values. But, it does not say very much about what it means to be a mom. So this makes this more a matter of Christian opinion than doctrine. However, I would like to point out that so many in this world know what a mom is, without ever being taught. This post is not to show women how to be a good mom, but to help all Christians see that being a mom is an important calling.
Proverbs 22:6 says to "train up a child in the way he should go." We know that this responsibility is so often settled on the mom's shoulders. She is expected to be the manager of the children's behavior, know what makes them tick, heal their wounds, provide their emotional support, and intervene when they step out of line. So many men in this world think that the "child rearing" is a woman's job, and they stand back and let them handle it. But it is not that simple. Too many times in the last 8 years, I have heard stories of mother's who couldn't take it anymore and did horrible things (even killing) their children. Mother's are being abandoned and the idea of being a "mommy" is not really popular anymore.
Look at the media. Most modern sitcoms portray Mom's as loving but interfering. They are shown to be selfish, strict, and not understanding and only come around when given a "shake up" experience. The reality is quite different. Mom's are loving, but a real mom is also accepting. She is not interfering, but protective and consistent toward family values. Many moms that I know are the most self-sacrificing people, even giving up "careers" for the right to raise their children. Good moms are persistent and consistent on rules, but show mercy to their kids when it is needed. In reality, I have only met two or three "mothers" in the last 10 years who would be equivalent to the modern portrayal of a mom. We have got to stop letting sitcoms and movies, whose only purpose is to evoke your feelings, be the authority on what makes a mom.
When I look beyond the society's parodies, I see that moms are the most underrated creature of our society. A stay-at-home mom is considered to be wasting her life, when in truth she is making a lasting investment. A career mom is criticized for being too "absent" for her children when she is striving to provide for them. The reality is, mom's are not a one-size fits all type of person. Rather, they are unique individuals who all share one thing in common: they care about their kids. It is their investment and concern for their children that makes them "moms" as opposed to those who are just "mothers."
Notice what I didn't say was a mom... biology. Being a mom is more than just giving birth to a new human being. Being a mom is a personal commitment that a woman makes to be there for her child. She is not perfect, but she never gives up. Mother's are unfairly blamed many times for special needs of their children, when they are often the only ones who truly try to understand. My son is autistic, but he would be lost without his mom. SHE committed to learning about Autism. SHE researched treatments and therapies and advocated for him when he was a kid. SHE was the one who navigated his night terrors, major tantrums, and developmental successes. SHE is the one who knows how to make him smile, and she is the one he always insists on showing love to. My son helped me become the dad I am, but I made a huge share of mistakes. My wife, however, has always been an awesome mom in my eyes because she was always committed to helping her children grow up well.
The Bible tells us repeatedly to honor our "fathers and mothers." Do so, but remember to see those "moms" who may not have their own children. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I think it just takes a good mom and a good dad. Being a mom is a commitment, one not every woman is willing to make. Thank God, however, that there are many who are..... and I was lucky enough to marry one.
Happy Mother's Day Everyone!
