Healing Rays of Righteousness

“After God created man, he stepped back, observed his work and concluded, ‘He is imperfect.  I must give him someone to complete him, to be his helper.’  So he created woman – loving, gentle, tender, kind, understanding.  Side by side they were to live and work – cooperating, trusting each other’s strengths and allowing for the weaknesses of each.” (Source unknown).

As his final and crowning work in the biblical creation story, God purposely “made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:22), to be an unique helper to man and the mother of all human-kind.  Many centuries later, the apostle Paul reminds us of this relationship – “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman.” (1 Corinthians 11:12).

Mother’s Day is a day to give special recognition and honor to our mothers, both living and dead.  I heard it said that “Mother” is not a name, but a divine function.  “To mother” is to be the bearer of life and the one who nourishes it.

The world has been significantly blessed by women who, having committed their lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, view their role as a good mothering parent to be a sacred calling from God.  To accept the responsibility of shaping lives and building character in a nourishing environment of a Christ-centered, love-filled home is often a difficult and frustrating challenge, but also a very rewarding responsibility.

Truly, a noble mother is the world’s most effective teacher and best companion.  Abraham Lincoln once said, “All that I am or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.”

Speaking of noble mothers, the writer of Proverbs says that “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.  Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31).

Called out of town to take care of a sick relative for a few weeks, a mother left her husband and children to run the house.  After a few days the mother began to wonder whether she was being missed at home.  A letter from her youngest son removed all doubt.  She read, “Dear Mom, Since you went away, this is the biggest house I ever saw.”

Little Brenda was about to “say her piece” in a children’s day program, but when she got in front of the crowd and saw all of the people in the audience, she panicked.  Every line that she had so carefully rehearsed faded from her memory, and she stood there frozen and unable to utter a single word.

Sitting in the front row, her mother was almost as frantic as the girl.  She gestured, she screwed up her lips to form the beginning words, but to no avail.  Finally in desperation she whispered the opening phrase, “I am the light of the world.”  Instantly little Brenda’s face relaxed, a smile appeared, and with supreme confidence she began, “My mother is the light of the world.”

Of course the audience quietly chuckled, but then on reflection realized that Brenda’s statement was not altogether wrong.  For good or for evil, mothers (and fathers) are unquestionably the light of their children’s world.

For that reason, I believe that the highest peak of influence for any woman is in the role of motherhood.   I once heard it said that to be a mother means managing a university, a clothing establishment, a laundry, a health clinic, and a restaurant.  Additionally, she is the president of the little state called home, as well as being its health officer and truant officer.

To be a noble and loving mother is an awesome challenge, and we need always to respect and honor their good influence in our life.  And probably the greatest tribute given to a mother was found on a cemetery headstone.  Below the name and date of the deceased mother, is this simple phrase, “She made home happy.”

No other word was needed.  What a testimony to a mother who was gifted, enabled, and committed to her calling and mission in life.  May their numbers increase in our world today, and may all of us, both mothers and fathers, daily endeavor to make our home happy.

                        “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 8, 2019