This blog will post on Mother’s Day, so I thought a tribute to motherhood was in order. It can be an emotional day. Some of my friends were abandoned or forgotten by their moms. Some of my friends desperately want to be a mom, but cannot bear children. Some of my friends have great mothers, but they’ve passed on or live far away. Some are single, married, remarried, divorced, or widowed. Some are fostering or have adopted children. Whatever your state with your mom or as a mom yourself, God has something in His Word for you today.
I’ve known some pretty great moms in my life, including my own. I’ve seen great examples, bad examples, and everywhere in between. I’ve seen them in all shapes and sizes and temperaments. But this one thing is true about all us moms, we make mistakes. The words we speak and the actions we take are often remembered for a lifetime and shape our children and generations to come. That’s a hefty responsibility.
It’s so easy to take credit when our children do well, and just as easy to pass the blame when our children make mistakes. I can teach them with my words, I can show them with my actions, I can pray for them, but I cannot change them. My words are sometimes the opposite of what they need to hear, my actions are often half-hearted or selfish, and my prayers are lacking in fervency and consistency. Then there’s the ‘mom comparison’ that kills so much joy in parenting. Seeing others excel in areas I am weak becomes defeating, and seeing others struggle where I am strong makes me too proud. I have always been imperfect, but now I have two little mirrors running around and that imperfection is reflected more often than I am ready to face. So, as a mom, I find I need wisdom more than ever.
This leads me to lean and call on God in a way we often do not think of…as Mom. We easily picture God as our Heavenly Father and Christ as our Husband, but we don’t have much of an image of the Holy Spirit (except of course that beautiful dove). So, for me, it’s been helpful to see this third person of the Trinity as a gracious, holy mother. Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as He gets ready to leave them:
“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
The word for ‘advocate’ there is paraklétos and it means helper, called to one’s aid, comforter, consoler, intercessor. How beautiful is that?! Now the word is masculine and Jesus refers to the Spirit as “he”, but God also created us in His image, both male and female. So there are female attributes to God and I see it most clearly in the job description of the Holy Spirit:
Comforter…”Shhh, now, it’ll be alright”
Helper…”Here, let me give you a hand with that.”
Teacher…”This is how you….”
Reminder of lessons learned…”Remember, I told you…”
Coming to our aid…”I’m right here, don’t worry.”
Intercessor…”I’m praying for you.”
Defender…”Don’t mess with my child!”
Sweet music to my ears! Yes, it’s weird to think of God as a mom, but then again, God loves weird. And God loves you. And God loves your mom. No matter how weird or wonderful or awful or awesome either of you are.
Now because I desire to make the world a better place with laughter, enjoy this Mom Song from Anita Renfroe. It’s a classic.
INTERTWINED 