Healing Rays of Righteousness

Each year on Mother’s Day we give special recognition and honor to our mothers, both living and dead. Truly, the world has been significantly blessed by Godly women who view their role as a mothering parent to be a special privilege and ministry from God. I was blessed with such a mother.

Speaking of “Godly 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).

I heard it said that “Mother” is not simply a title, but a divine function. In other words, “To mother” is to create and birth life into a new human being, and then to provide, nourish, protect, and shape its being and character toward maturity of adulthood. And to accept this awesome privilege of mothering is often a difficult, frustrating, and disappointing challenge, but it can also be a very rewarding experience.

From the very first sight and cry of each of our four children, from the very first cradling of their tiny body, my wife and I were head over heels in love with them. I loved them simply because they were ours. They did not earn our love. They did not necessarily deserve it. Furthermore, they demanded a lot from us and were very costly in terms of both time and money.

They would get sick and grouchy. Many a night they interrupted our needed sleep. They prided themselves in spitting baby food on our clean shirt or skirt. They could be noisy, messy, and smelly all at the same time. But above and beyond all of that, they were our children. And nothing they could do or say would ever, ever stop us from loving them.

Eventually, growing up in the environment of love we maintained for them, their love for us as parents took root and deepened. And now, being matured adults when they say they love us, we know from their hugs that they truly do love us.

In his first letter, John says God’s parental relationship with us is just like that. We love (God) because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). AND NOTHING WE CAN EVER DO WILL STOP GOD FROM LOVING US.

The one word that characterizes both our “Motherly God” and “Godly Mothers” is LOVE. This amazing truth is confirmed in the following verses regarding God.

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” (Isaiah 66:13).

“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: Power belongs to you, God, and with you , Lord, is unfailing love;” (Psalm 62:11-12)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1).

Maybe you heard the story of a three-year-old who climbed into her mother’s lap and said, “Mommy, I love you.”  As she felt her mother’s face and touched her mother’s nose she said, “I love your nose, Mommy.”  She said the same thing about her mother’s ear, chin, cheek, hair, and finally she said, “Mommy, show me your heart.”

Her mother hesitated for a moment and then said, “Honey, look into my eyes and see what you can see. Look way down deep.” The little girl got very close and looked intently into her mother’s eyes. Then she said, “Mommy, I can see way down and the only thing I can see is myself.”

That is the kind of deep love for which every child hungers. And that is the kind of love we discover when we look way down deep into God’s eyes. He loves us with a love greater and deeper than the best of mothers could ever love.

To be a noble, wise, 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.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – May 11, 2023

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley