Mother’s Day special:
Mother is an epitome of love and sacrifice !
A MOTHER UNDERSTANDS WHAT A CHILD DOES NOT SAY.
“A wise woman builds her house......” - Proverbs 14:1
This verse puts forth an indispensable truth. Though a family or home is built by both the husband and the wife, the greater responsibility is laid on the lady of the house in gluing the family together and keeping harmony and maintaining peace. The man of the house is primarily the provider and protector whereas the woman is the foundation and builder of the family. That’s why the latter part of Proverbs 14:1 says, “.....but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.” Building or ruining a family rests in the hands of the woman !
Whether rich or poor, whether educated or not, whether talented or not, whether beautiful or not, it hardly matters. Any woman who trusts in the Lord and depends on Him each and every day to guide and instruct her, can build a godly family .Yes, you can my dear sister in Christ, you can build a blessed home for the glory of God. Esther was an orphan, but God used her to save a nation from genocide, Hannah was ridiculed and despised, but God enabled her to become the mother of Samuel , the great prophet and priest of all times. Jacobed is the mother of Aaron, Miriam and Moses- all her children were raised to serve the mighty purpose of God in delivering His people- the Israelites from bondage in Egypt and to lead them to the Promised Land. Ordinary homemakers and maidens like Mary and Martha, helped Jesus in His ministry. They served by cooking and showing hospitality to those who laboured to spread the gospel.
Hagar was a servant whom Abraham and Sarah had brought from Egypt. When she was illtreated and humiliated and thrown out of Sarah’s house, she was with child and no where to go. But the Almighty God, in His love and mercy visited Hagar and blessed her child and the generations that sprang forth from her.( Genesis chapters 21 & 22). A small servant girl was instrumental in leading the Syrian army commander Naaman to Elisha who proved to Namaan that the God of Israel is able to heal his leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1-19)
These are just a few of the many such women whom the Bible tells us about who built their families by their faith and devotion to the Lord. The widow of Zarephath by her obedience and by wholeheartedly giving her last meal to Elijah received God’s favour and had enough food to last as long as the famine lasted. (1 Kings 17).
In the gospel of Matthew 15:21-28, we read about the Syrophoenician woman who came to Jesus and pleaded to deliver her daughter who was being terribly tormented by demons. At first, Jesus pretends to be rude and unsympathetic towards her plea, but her humility and persistence not to leave without having her daughter delivered from evil powers, touches the heart of Jesus. Jesus commends her faith and heals her child immediately.
Women had their families sustained through famine, had their dead son brought back to life, received innumerable miracles, by their faith and unshaken trust in the Lord their God. These women not only impacted their families, but their communities and nations as well. Women may be called a weak vessel, but when she submits to the Lord God Almighty, there’s nothing that can stop her! Hallelujah!!
A quotation that I read recently captured my heart. Here’s what it says-
WOMEN OF GOD CAN NEVER BE LIKE WOMEN OF THE WORLD
The world has enough women who are tough,
We need more women who are tender.
There are enough women who are coarse,
We need more women who are kind.
There are enough women who are rude,
We need women who are refined.
There are enough women of fame and fortune,
We need women of faith.
We have enough of greed,
We need more of goodness.
We have enough vanity,
We need more virtue.
We have enough popularity,
We need more purity.
It’s very true women of God can never be like the women of the world. The worldly women seek to please people , have the admiration and attention of the world . But for a woman of God, her audience is her Saviour and the heavenly host. She seeks only to please Jesus who’s the lover of her soul and to gain His approval and applause alone. I read about a beauty queen contest in 2004. The beautiful lady who won the crown that year, sadly had to return her crown because she was found guilty of giving false statement regarding her marital status. She was accused of being married and having cheated the jury as being unmarried . They may look very pretty on the ramp, but character and inner beauty is what makes a woman truly beautiful and precious in God’s sight. Women of God must stand out as bright stars and be examples for the world to emulate.
1 Peter 3:1-4 (NIV) says, “ Wives,..... submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
If every woman would make this the guiding principle of her life, there is no doubt, that home will be a piece of heaven on earth.
Another wonderful verse that women can adapt in order to build her home is Titus 2;3-8 (NIV)-
3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4 Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.
6 Similarly, encourage the young men to be self-controlled. 7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness 8 and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.
It is great if you are a working mother. It's a challenge to reckon with in the modern times. The pressures to meet the growing demands of home making and parenting compel women to pursue a career as well as care for the family. . However, the primary duty of a woman is towards the family as the Bible teaches us. We see that the cause for broken families and fall in moral standards and increase in crime and rebellious youth boil down to lack of love, affection and understanding in the family. A healthy family will always pave the way for peace and harmony.
Before I wind up, let me not leave you thinking that only women who are married qualify to build good families. There are many great women who stayed single and dedicated their lives to build the bigger family which is the society and nation and the world at large. Jane Austen through her literature, Florence Nightingale through her selfless service as a nurse, Mother Teresa caring for the despised and forsaken in the dusty streets of Calcutta, Ida Scudder in laying foundation for the Christian Medical college in Vellore through her compassion and medical services , Amy Carmichael in caring for orphan girls. These are just a few of the many others who became a Mother to millions through their love and service.
May each one of us take the responsibility that our Lord has entrusted us with with all sincerity and dedication and be the builders of our families and nation as the Lord desires of us. God be with you and establish you. Amen!
HAVE A BLESSED MOTHER’S DAY !
