A Celebration of Motherhood

When Paul described his ministry among the Thessalonians he said he was “gentle, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” (1 Thess. 2:7). There’s something beautiful about motherhood that everyone, even the most masculine among us, ought to imitate. As we live together as members of this church, we all ought to take on the gentle, nurturing care of a mother. That means we strive to treat one another with warm affection, tenderhearted love, and watchful care. Even Jesus compared his love and care for Jerusalem to a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings (Matthew 23:37).

On this Mother’s Day, it’s good to remember how valuable motherhood is in the church. Men and women alike need to value God’s design in motherhood. Women are absolutely, unequivocally essential for the health of the church. Mothers, yes, but all women too. We must remember, God gave his first command to rule and subdue the earth to Adam and Eve. Their roles would be different, but they were both essential for playing it out.

So it is in the church today. It may be tempting to think that because men are called to be elders and teachers in the church, that women are not as valuable. This is Satan’s lie. Men and women are equal in dignity, equal in necessity, but different in the roles they were given to play. Adam was called to “work and keep” the garden while Eve was called a “helper.” Both roles were essential.

So on Mother’s Day let’s celebrate that God made women different than men. Let’s celebrate that women tend toward nurturing, caring, and supporting. Men, let’s encourage our women to live out this maternal calling-- at home and in the church. Let’s celebrate the singles who have taken it upon themselves to “mother” a younger generation. Let’s celebrate the empty-nesters who are investing in young mothers with wisdom, grace, and truth. Let’s celebrate God’s grace in motherhood.

Happy Mother’s Day.