Why did God make mothers? (Mother's Day)

Down through the centuries many have acknowledged what an integral part a mother plays in the welfare of a family. Undoubtedly, and from my own experience I can tell that mothers are like an anchor to a ship and a thread to a kite without them the fabric of family and society disintegrates. We all agree to that fact, but have you ever wondered why God made mothers? And what is their God given role in life? A Jewish proverb says, “God could not be everywhere therefore he made mothers.” I am not so sure about that! Some hilarious perceptions on why God made mothers and their role by 2nd grade children:

I. Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.

II. How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my Mum just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
III. What ingredients are mothers made of? 1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean. 2. They had to get their start from men's bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.
IV. Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom? 1. We're related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mums like me.
V. What kind of little girl was your mum? 1. My Mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff. 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice.
VI. Who's the boss at your house? 1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball. 2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
VII. What's the difference between mums & dads? 1. Mums work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller & stronger, but mums have all the real power because that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend's. 4. Mums have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.[1]

Second grade children have a pretty good perception on why God made mothers and what their role is and there is a lot of truth in what they have to say. But there is much more to be a mother than just changing thousands of diapers, cooking and cleaning the house. What does the Bible have to say about mothers for that matter, women in general? What is their God given role and responsibility? How should children treat their mothers? Let’s look at several scriptures to understand the role and the responsibility of a mother.

I. Childbearing the joy of motherhood:
We can learn from the Genesis account that Adam named his wife Eve because she would become the mother of all the living.”(Gen 3:20) The account of Genesis tells us that Eve became the first mother and subsequently there have been many mothers since then. It was God’s intention when he created man and woman that they would be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.(Gen 1:27) God’s intended order is that it would take both a man and a woman coming together to create life but it is the woman who brings forth life into the world. Sadly these days we try to change God’s intended order and purpose, no wonder why we get into all sorts of trouble. There are many biblical references that indicate this precious gift of childbearing:

The blessing of a brother over his sister Rebekah “Our sister may you increase to thousands upon thousands may your offspring possess the gates of their enemies” (Gen 24:59)
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your sons will be like olive shoots around your table ( Ps 128:3)
Jacob replied to his brother Esau “these are the children God has graciously given your servant” (Gen 48:9)
Joseph proudly introduced his children to his father Jacob saying “They are the sons God has given me here.” (Gen 48:9)

When we read scriptures of this kind, I understand the fact that it may be painful for some who do not have biological children. I have a sister back home and several friends I know who have been married for years but have not had children. Why do some have children and some don't remain a mystery. I do know that regardless of whether one has children or not, one is equally valued and loved by God.

Motherhood is not always about bearing children. It doesn’t take much to become a mother these days but it takes everything of you to be the mother that God would want you to be. There are those who have never born a child and have been great mothers. A young Albanian girl at the age of twelve received a call from God, left her home town and went to reach out to the poor and the hurting in the streets of Calcutta India. She was never married and never had the joy of motherhood but yet she had become a mother to thousands people around the world. She was affectionately called Mother Teresa (August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997),

II Mother’s Tender Loving Care: The sacrificial love of a mother for her child is unparalleled. A mother goes through a near death experience to bring forth a child into this world. After that she gives herself to feed, nurture, and to change countless diapers. She stays up at nights taking care of a restless child. She gives up her food so that her child can have something to eat. She would go to any length and do anything to protect her child. We know by observing nature, the female species are much more ferocious when it comes to protecting their offspring. Kate Samperi says, “A mother loves her children even when they least deserve to be loved.” Some biblical examples of a mother’s love.

Hagar loved her child so much she could not bear the thought of seeing her child dying in front of her very eyes she kept the boy near by and began to weep. The Lord answered her cry.(Gen 21.16) The mother of Moses, defied kings orders and hid the baby for three months. But when she could not keep him any longer she kept the baby in a basket and put it in the river. She placed her daughter to find out what would happen to the boy. In the end the Lord brought the baby back to the mother so that she could love and nurse that child.(Ex 2:4-8).
Hannah used to make a special robe each year and gave it to the little boy Samuel who was ministering in the temple.(I Sa 2:19) not to mention the mother in Solomon’s court out of compassion for her son said “please my Lord give her the living baby(I Ki 3:26). The Shunammite, woman who did not give up, though her child was dead; she traveled a long time to meet the prophet Elisha and pleaded him to come home to bring the child back to life. Her love and persuasion brought her son back to life from the dead.(2 Kings 4:18-34)

In the NT we have the examples of the Canaanite mother who cried out to Jesus to heal her demon possessed daughter.(Matt 15:21). Finally we have the mother of Jesus Mary who stood very close to the cross even when all the disciples had deserted Jesus except for one. (John 19:25).

Years ago, a young mother sold the farm and moved with her children to her native place, she was making her way across the hills of South Wales, carrying her tiny baby in her arms, when she was overtaken by a blinding blizzard. She never reached her destination and when the blizzard had subsided her body was found by searchers beneath a mound of snow. But they discovered that before her death, she had taken off all her outer clothing and wrapped it about her baby. When they unwrapped the child, to their great surprise and joy, they found he was alive and well. She had mounded her body over his and given her life for her child, proving the depths of her mother love. Because of that mothers great love years later that child, David Lloyd George, grown to manhood, became prime minister of Great Britain, and, without doubt, one of England’s greatest statesman. His mother was Elizabeth George (1828-1896) [2]

III. Mother the primary teacher: We can not underestimate the importance of a Mother when it comes to give life’s valuable lessons to a growing child. Thank God for our mothers they taught us what was wrong and what was right. They taught us many things such as, the tastes, colors, hygiene, how to relate with strangers, and if our mothers were a Christian than she taught us about God and how to have a relationship with him. In early childhood mother plays a key role in the overall development of a child but that doesn’t mean fathers have nothing to do in the formation of a Child.

In Indian culture and Hindu traditions mothers are revered a lot to an extent they are worshipped. Sai Baba is one of the most respected Hindu sages world wide, he has a lot of good things to say about mothers, “The mother's lap is the first school for every child. It is his first temple; mother is his foremost God. A Mother is every man's primary wealth. It is the duty of every person to recognize this truth. A mother herself should look after the children during the early years instead of placing the child in the custody and care of baby sitters and servants. She must enforce discipline over the children in personal cleanliness, in humility and hospitality, in good manners and acts of service. She must persuade the children by example and precept to revere elders and to allot some time both in the morning and evening for prayer and silent meditation.”[3] They seem to have gotten some things right here, ironically in India on one hand they exalt the mother but on the other hand they abuse the girl child. I think we as Christians are called to set forth more Godly examples when it comes to motherhood and child raising.

Here are some parental guidance from the Bible: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs (22:6). God placed a huge responsibility on the shoulders of parents. God’s expectation of parents is that they were to “teach God’s commandments diligently to their children, they were to talk of them several times during the day.”(Duet 6:7) The wise King Solomon exhorts his son saying “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.”(Prov 1:8-9)

The last chapter 31, in the book of proverbs was dedicated to highlight the characteristics of a noble woman. Among many other things the noble woman teaches her children, “O my son, O son of my womb O son of my vows do not spend your strength on women your vigor on those who ruin kings.”(Prov 31:2). Unfortunately there were also some not so good examples of mothers in the Bible. Rebekah, encouraged her son Jacob to lie to his father and cheat his brother.(Gen 27) The mother of King Ahaziah, her name was Athaliah, She had counseled her son to do wicked things.(Dt 23:3) Herodias for her own selfish reasons prompted her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist.(Matt 14:6)

We have learned in school that Thomas Alave Edison invented phonograph, the electric bulb and many other things. While we admire his greatness we fail to give recognition to who made him that grate. When he was a young lad his teacher sent him home with a note which said, 'Your child is dumb. We can't do anything for him.' Mrs. Edison wrote back, 'You do not understand my boy. I will teach him myself'. And she did,” the rest is history. "I ask you, who was greater, Thomas A. Edison or his mother?

On this mother’s day we honor and respect our mothers by showering them with gifts, and compliments, which is good. Mothers while you are being praised today I also would like you to ponder on these thoughts, what kind of a mother am I? Am I cherishing the joy of motherhood? Do I listen to popular opinion which downplays the role of mothers or do I indeed train my children in the way they should go? May the Lord bless all the mothers.

[1] http://www.askmehelpdesk.com/humor-comedy/why-god-made-mothers-86438.html
[2] James S. Hewett, Illustrations Unlimited, Tyndale, 1972, p. 375.

[3] http://www.srisathyasai.org.in/Pages/His_teachings/Role_of_women.htm