Isaiah 49:15: "Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?"
As a youth pastor, I have seen so many incredible moms who loved their kids in ways that made me pause in awe. There is no promise of how any child will turn out, but the ways I have seen moms act, especially when their kids were wayward, have been remarkable. For years, 3 mothers would meet at the church every Friday to pray for their children who had not yet found their way to Christ. They were not hopeless ladies, but truly faith-filled that the Lord would save their sons. Here are 4 things I notice about these women's character:
1. Prayer warrior: I think it is safe to say there is no one who prays for their kids like a mom. Kids seem to encounter struggles no matter what a family does to try to avoid them, and when a mom turns to Christ as their comfort and hope, that child has heaven fighting for them, compared with anything this world offers as a solution. A mom is the silent warrior fending for their child, even if they may not know it until the day we all stand before Christ.
2. Present: Moms are not always the centre of attention at a gathering, but when the family gets together, you know they will be there. In the same way, heroes are not people who always rush in to save the day, but the ones you know will show up for you when no one else will. Whether a kid has had a good day or the worst day, moms want to be there to walk with them through it all. More than always having the right words, just being there is irreplaceable.
3. Unbiased wisdom: Mothers are people who fully give of themselves for the sake of their children and want to see them thrive for no other reason than love. A good mother has no bias in what they want to offer their child when it comes to wisdom. Many times, people have a predisposition in what they offer others; mothers will listen and offer the best wisdom they have because they want their child to thrive. Everyone may want something from you, but a really good mom wants to see their kids succeed, full stop.
4. A mother’s love: There are multiple accounts of mothers jumping into rushing rivers, off bridges, to grab a hold of their child, guaranteeing their own fate along with their child’s, because they would rather be with their kid in the midst of death and danger than see them alone in it. Other than the Lord, there is no one who will love like a mom. They will worry, pray, be present, think on, wait, be excited, laugh, and cry for their kids more than anyone, because that is how the Lord made them to be. Moms give all of themselves for their kids and are seldom thanked the way they deserve. But thank you, Jesus.
Dear Lord, thank you for mothers. Give our mothers strength to love and to pray another day. Grant them the joy of their offspring and the peace that can only be found in you. Lead the lost children back to you and protect those in the fold from the enemy. Thank you, Lord, that you hear our prayers.
Amen