Add to this the qualities of a good mother - the kind of mother who actually cares about her children. This is something many take for granted, which in-and-of-itself says something wonderful and terrible about the culture those children come from - that a culture would train women to be such amazing women that we can take for granted that a woman will be a wonderful mother.
Certainly this gives a great deal of credit to women without actually specifying it. And given the sheer amount of marketing that goes into guiltily reminding over-busy people to thank their mothers, it seems to be a cultural thing to disassociate with one's mother until mother's day, when all of a sudden you are to quickly communicate how much she meant to you, then spend the next few months ignoring her until thanksgiving.
But I am not here to speak about good mothers. I honor mothers, and I greatly honor good mothers, but there is another category that gets far too little face time but does a great deal more to enhance the quality of life of literally everyone on the planet. This category is the Godly mother, including the mothers who put God before their families, who go to bed crying some nights, praying for their beloved husbands and children, for their neighbors, and often forget themselves, and the mothers who so gently and firmly live out the Proverbs 31 lifestyle (at least its current incarnation) that the men who grow up under the spiritual authority that results have a very hard time valuing and appreciating women who don't follow in the same footsteps - thus improving the likelihood that they too will choose edifying companions, thus enhancing the chain and keeping Christianity a thriving reality.
Mothers who put God first, before themselves, before their children, and before their husbands, are doing the highest service they possibly can, honoring their station, and perhaps doing the world's hardest job in what seems the most difficult way possible - on the surface. In the long run, it’s the only way to do the job well with any kind of assurance that you've done the job well.
The result of such an effort and focus are astounding. You have seen children who are functional members of society, clearly loving God, being helpful to others, and having a certain peace about them. There is a very large chance that they had a spiritual mother. Sometimes it was even their birth mother, but Godly mothers don't always have to be the one we're born with.
On this topic, there will always be an insufficient time to write, speak, or communicate - the literal effect that mothers have had in our lives is incalculable, and that is how it should be. Our job isn't to keep the ledger of appreciation. It’s to return the favor by honoring the God of our mothers. And to earnestly let her know, in whatever fashion she most appreciates, that you truly value her counsel and her mothering.
Call to action
- Pray for your mother
Not many people would voluntarily sign up for the job that mother's are called to do. Regardless how supportive or amazing she was or still is, she deserves your prayers. It is one way you can honor God - it's built into His ten commandments.
How valuable must your mother be if God took the ten rules of edifying living and said, briefly "Okay, in addition to worshipping me, I want you to honor your parents". Your mom must matter a great deal to God if she was put on THAT list. Also, as a side note, notice that mother was put before father. Mothers are a big deal to God. - Pray for the mothers of others
One of the sad realities of the human condition is that not everyone has a mother. And even worse, fewer still have Godly mothers. Consider those women of antiquity who sacrificed their children to various gods, or the mothers in the bible who ate their children, or even the mothers in the news who leave their children in dumpsters - not something we often discuss, especially on Mother's Day.
Whether we might focus our mindset on the mother who is trying her best to do what is right (but is a new mother, never had any real experience raising little ones or little siblings, and has no support network), to the mothers in countries of oppression where they are taught that only certain genders 'count' to countries where women are second-class citizens, many, many would-be mothers, actual apathetic mothers, and mothers who gave their children up for adoption need our prayers.
Add to this the very real list of women who are struggling, even while you read these words, to be the very best mothers they can be but don't know how - they deserve your prayers too. - Love your mother
There are five standards ways to show someone genuine appreciation and love. They are: quality time, physical touch, words of affirmation, gifts, and acts of service. Determine which your mom most values and provide that to her today in as simple and effective a manner as you can. She will appreciate it more than she'll be able to convey and you'll know that she will likely know that her own efforts were a worthy investment. - Honor your mother
In prayer to God, ask Him to bring to mind something you've been told by your mom that you may have set aside or intended to do but forgotten. If there is nothing - congratulations! You're part of the .01% of the people I've met that truly are amazing - witness to us!
Everyone else: give that event, idea, or opportunity to God and ask Him to show you how whether it is in His will. Ask him something along the lines that, if it IS his will, to incorporate it into your life. Regardless, actively honor your mom, being mindful this day of the reality of your existence in this world, how you think, your relationship with God, and your relationship with women, are all reflections of your own relationship with your mom.
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