That Rare Mother
That Rare Mother
A.W.Tozer said, “There are rare Christians whose very presence invites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.” On this Mother’s Day, let’s consider what it might be like to be that rare mother whose very presence invites others to be better mothers. How do we become these kind of women? What are qualities that build a woman like this?
Christ is her life. It is the aroma of Christ in her that others see. She makes knowing God through His Word a priority and thus she is coming to Him for everything pertaining to her life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). She is abiding in Him and He is producing His fruit in her life (John 15:4). She is by no means perfect, but she is confident that she is in Christ. Her sins are forgiven by His precious blood, and His perfect righteousness is credited to her. This means she knows her Advocate is interceding on her behalf. So she can rest in His strength to be what He has called her to be, living out a sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5).
She is selfless. I’ll admit this is a hard one for me. While selflessness at times is forced on a mother, it only counts eternally if it is done from a right heart. It can take time, and many times of dying to self to begin to learn this lesson. The rare mother desires to imitate Christ and His selflessness. She wants to “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” and humbled Himself to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:5-8). A rare mother humbly lays herself aside for those in her home first, and then for those around her. She cheerfully puts the needs and desires of her children before her own. She is a willing listener and an encourager. When she gathers with friends, she is not jealous of other mothers’ gifts, talents, or blessings. She rejoices with other mothers when they are rejoicing, and weeps with them when they are weeping (Romans 12:15).
She builds others up. A wise mother will seek ways to build up her children. Frequent hugs, often spoken “I love you”s, help with that last minute project, smiles as they walk out of the door, texts saying, “I’m proud of you” and “you can do this!”, a fitly spoken word of reproof, playing games and laughing together, learning new things together, and many other little significant things can be done to build up and encourage her children. Most importantly, she encourages them in righteous living, modeling this before them and exhorting them to walk uprightly, pleasing the Lord. And this will spill over to her friendships with other mothers. This heart to encourage and exhort others will be the law of kindness which will be on her tongue (Proverbs 31:26).
She prays. A mother who strives to be a rare mother, a rare Christian mother, knows she is dependent on the Lord for everything. She knows she cannot change herself, her circumstances, or her children, but she knows the One who holds all those things in His providential care. She prays passionately and persistently, not willing to give in to despair (Luke 18:1). In seasons of joy and in seasons of sorrow, she comes to the Lord looking expectantly to Him for all her needs and desires and all the needs and desires of her children (Psalm 5:3). This expectant, hopeful dependence reaches to others in her life, giving them courage and hope to look to the Savior with her.
There are more qualities to a rare Christian mother, but hopefully these thoughts will encourage you to again, today, dedicate yourself to your role as mother. Whether you are a new mother, a seasoned mother, a grandmother mothering your grandchildren, or a spiritual mom to others, may you be strengthened by His might to be a devoted mother. You are needed! The Lord can use you to increase the progress and joy of your own children’s faith and others’ faith (Philippians 1:25).
To my dear friends that the Lord has blessed me with during these last couple of decades of mothering: you ARE that rare mother. And I thank God for each one of you. Each of you is stamped on my heart and on my mothering and I am a better mother because of your influence in my life. I love you.
To my own rare mother, words fall short to express the love I have for you and the impact your life, your joy, your smile, your prayers, your concern, your encouragement, and your example have had on me and on my children. The longer I am a mother, the more my heart is knit to yours in knowing more deeply what mothers feel and hope and desire for their children. You have rejoiced with me in my rejoicing and wept with me in my weeping, and perhaps you’ve done that more for me than I have for myself. And the greatest thing of all is that I know you are a praying mother. Those many prayers morning, noon, and night will have an eternal impact that we cannot see yet, but we will be able to rejoice together when our faith becomes sight. I love you.
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