Reflections on Motherhood

I am so grateful to the Lord for blessing me with children.  He has given me the desire for motherhood since I was a baby!  At age two I was feeding my baby dolls and pushing them in the stroller.  My thoughts on motherhood were very childish, though.  I failed to see the full picture, until the day I had my first child, and my world was turned upside down.  The responsibility was often times more than I could bear, and it didn't take long for my eyes to be opened to the duty set before me.  My children weren't going to automatically do what I told them to, or just be soft and cuddly forever!

The Lord has graciously and mercifully been teaching me of this calling to motherhood.  I feel very unworthy, for indeed it is a sacred calling from the Lord.  It entails such a wide spectrum of responsibilities, wisdom, and understanding.  Everyday is an important day.  There is no room for slack, because there are little eyes watching every move I make, of which, are willing and able to emulate every look, attitude, action, etc. that they see. The Lord commands us to "bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (Ephesians 6:4) and to "train up a child in the way he should go" (Proverbs 22:6). That is not an easy task, and we must have the help of the Holy Spirit to accomplish this, because we most certainly cannot do it in our own wisdom and strength. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phillipians 4:13). Though it may not be taught much anymore, the truth still stands, in which, we are all born wicked and depraved, dead in our trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1) It doesn't matter who you are, every single person is born with this sin nature from day one.  We are utterly inept to save ourselves from it, either.  We are only brought out of this bondage by the extension of God's grace and love to us by His only son, Jesus Christ, who conquered death and hell. "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves:  it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

We must understand this calling, which is given to parents.  Parents need to teach their children to obey them, to respect them, and to honor them because it is a command from God to the children.  The fifth commandment says, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12)  Children will not understand how to do this if they are not trained and disciplined to do so.  A child's disobedience to a parent is disobedience to God, so if a child is never properly taught this, how will they ever learn to obey God?

As a Christian mother, I must also reflect Jesus Christ to my children, and be obedient to Him, as well.  They need to see me being gentle, joyful, submissive and obedient to my husband, loving, kind, good, and patient.  I love to learn of God's design for families.  He has a role, purpose, and place for each and every family member.  They are all under the authority of Christ.  The husband/father is the leader, provider, protector, and teacher.  The wife/mother is under the husband's authority, and she is the helper, nurturer, lover, and teacher to the children.  The children are under the authority of the parents and they are the ones being taught and instructed in all things.  It really is a beautiful sight when seen in action!  So while the rest of the world sits in distress and confusion, we will, by the grace of God, stay in our proper family roles, and be shining lights on a hill for Christ!  We will proclaim His gospel, not only with our lips, but with our obedience to His Word.

I am now a mother to three children and I am so thankful that the Lord has given me the desire to embrace this God-given calling!  I pray that more and more women would see how important motherhood is, and stop sending their children away to school each day, fleeing their responsibility to teach their children themselves.  Not only that, but also being there for them every day, by not having a job outside of the home.  If you have a husband and children, your responsibility is to them first.  Embrace it!  Though our culture looks down on this calling, I will forever uphold it and cleave to it with all that I am, for the glory of God!