Little hands on mighty hips, my seven-year-old face-offed with her teacher. The innocent question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” torched the classroom. It seems out of the entire class only my daughter thought the response, “I want to be a Mom,” worth defending.
Like a ninja warrior.
I’m afraid the teacher had no idea what she was getting into with her dismissive laugh and remark, “I meant important job.”
“It’s the most important job in the world,” she so very pointedly shot back, arrows in her glare.
As a mom, I’m glad I only was told about it at the subsequent teacher-parent conference. So happy I wasn’t there to hear the teacher answer my daughter with, “That’s not a job.”
Sometimes, it is good to not be at the scene of the crime.
Many have looked at motherhood as a curse, a holding back, stifling and unfair. God’s Word is clear that nurturing life is in fact a great blessing. A messy blessing, but wonderful all the same, and in ways I do not completely understand, God sets the female gender apart in a uniquely precious way to impact the world by doing what only she can.
Could it possibly be since Eve, the mother of all living beings, humankind has sought to diminish the role and value of a Mother?
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.” 1 Timothy 2:13-15 ESV
As much as I hate to give Satan any credit at all, he did know where and what to hit, because when He found his mark on rebellion against God, it also had disastrous results on marriage.It distorted created perfection. It broke relationship. It confused roles. It brought dissension instead of unity, competition rather than collaboration, self-centeredness instead of other-focus.
Where God designed beauty, sin painted a destructive picture. And ever since, women have misunderstood a most precious gift. We are the incubators of life, a metaphor of new birth.
“Jesus answered him, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?’”
“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” John 3:3-4; 6-7 ESV
Mary, mother of Jesus, carried the Child conceived of the Holy Spirit until the specific days were accomplished. God chose the womb of a mother to bring the Son of God into the world. Mary did not consider her body her own. Her choice was to serve God. It was not an easy road.
The Son Jesus confirmed His mother’s value while he hung on the Cross. His last dying instruction to John cared for Mary. The physical life she nurtured once within her, offers us eternal life now. Christ did not forget her role in His. In His supreme sacrifice, He valued His mother.
“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” “Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.’” John 19:26-27 ESV
Despite His torn flesh and bleeding body, even though the horror of sin’s payment lay heavy on Jesus’ shoulders, He remembered Mamma.
Mother’s Day is around the corner. I know my story is easy compared to many others. My Mamma loved my Daddy, Jesus and me. She still has my love and devotion even though she has been gone many years. I too still remember Mamma. I honor her for her important role in my physical being and more importantly, my spiritual walk.
Jesus remembered MammaMy daughters and daughter-in-law love Jesus and are amazing moms raising wonderful grandkids. The next generation is being influenced for Christ through them. I honor their important job. It nurtures, molds, and instructs another generation. Their value is inestimable.
Your story may be very different. Mother’s Day may not bring sweet memories or promise a bright future. It may bring pain more than joy.
“Upon you I have leaned from before my birth; you are he who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of you.” Psalm 71:6 ESV
The Psalmist reminds us that God is Sovereign in the mother chosen for us and He is ultimately the one who with tender hands birthed us. He is a Father who loves. He instills purpose for each life.
For these blessings, I am humbled and grateful. But, I know as well, this world with all its voices desires to break down one of the most precious gifts of womanhood, and it might bring out a little Ninja in me.
Because to all you warriors in the trenches, the value of a Mother is immeasurable.
It is indeed a very important job.
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