Tag: Teaching

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Spiritual Motherhood

Precious Sisters in the Lord,

Today is Mother’s Day, and as Christian women, regardless of our age, we are all privileged to celebrate motherhood in a different sense—spiritual motherhood. Indeed, even for those who have not yet had children, or may never bear children, spiritual motherhood is our privilege—and our calling.

Consider the specific command we are given by Paul in Titus 2: 3-5. Here it is:

3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, 4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.

Notice the particular diction: to be reverent…teaching…encourage. As the Beloved of God, especially chosen by Him for His glory and delight, we can thankfully embark on our high and unique calling to be reverent, to teach and to encourage.

Allow me first to clear up something. When Paul refers to the “older women” this does not mean age, but maturity, particularly, maturity in our Christian faith. I am astounded, Sisters, at the profound, letters that you write, bringing it all home to my heart, allowing me to experience your concerns, your joys and even your pains, then applying Scriptural sensibility to life situations. You may be younger in years, Little Sisters, but you are richly blessed in Christian maturity through your knowledge of the Bible and special applications you continuously make. Good for you—and good for us!

Now, to be reverent should be the passion for every Christian. God is holy, holy, holy. (I keep mentioning that because it keeps humbling, humbling, humbling me.) How else could we stand before God except on our knees or on our face! Our behavior in everything, what we say, what we do, how we respond, should always give glory to God. (Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Colossians 3: 17) What a wonderful way to participate in motherhood—to reflect our love for God at the supermarket, in our work, when we ask for help or address a problem, how we dress for church, where we go for recreation, what we do in service for God and community! The younger women, those ladies who are beginning to realize their need for God, or who are new in the faith, are watching with wide open eyes. I remember the first Christian church my husband and I attended, where I took mental notes on everything Christian women said or did, so that I would learn to act properly and pleasing to God. What a conviction came my way when the Holy Spirit made me aware that we are all sinners, and that our true and only model should be Jesus Christ! But these sweet ladies already knew that!

Also, in Titus 2, we are called to teach, as well. Some of you may already be teachers in Sunday school or homeschooling or Vacation Bible School. But even outside of these activities, God calls all of us to teach little ones the way that pleases Him. In Proverbs 22: 6, we are told: Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it. Spiritual Motherhood is exemplified when we pray for the unborn, the newborn, the tweens and the teens, when we are asked to give advice or counsel to college students or to an engaged couple. Our Motherhood Manual should always be the same—the Holy Bible. What joy it is to see a young person respond well to a situation for the good guidance or warning that we give—all to the glory of God!

Now remember, there is a third admonition for Spiritual Motherhood, and that is, to encourage. Here, we obey God by presenting the Truth of His word to a world that, without Christ as Savior, will perish eternally. When we are confronted by unbelievers and we respond by leading them to the Lord with a word kindly spoken, when we are called to the bedside of a sick person and we read the Scriptures or sing a spiritual song to them, when we visit grieving friends and we place our arms around them and say, “I am here for you”, all of these are only small ways that we can encourage. Women are already designed to be nurturing, comforting, understanding and giving. Now that is a great combination of God-given qualities to make us encouraging Mothers!

To my special Sisters who long to be married and have a family, who are married and are unable to start a family, or whose children are estranged from them, allow me to be your encouraging Mother. Trust in the grace of our Sovereign God Who knitted us in our mother’s womb. Believe that He Who is all-knowing and all-powerful will finish His work in you, for His glory—even if it is not as we would want. Be ready in all seasons to serve Him as teacher and encourager to women and children who need to draw close to Jesus Christ, our all in all.

And so, Dear Sisters, if you believe Mother’s Day is only for women flanked by little ones—or big ones who return to the nest—reflect on Titus 2, and celebrate a Happy Mother’s Day—every day!

Mimi

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The Sanctity of Motherhood

Dear sister,

What comes to your mind when you read “motherhood”? Your mom? Your best friend’s mom? The mom with the screaming kid at the park or grocery store? Sleepless nights? A good day being one where you actually get out of your PJ’s and into the shower? I actually asked my husband, some friends and my 12 year old niece this very questions. None of their answers were the same. Interesting.

My husband talked about how he was impacted by a professor who said believers find great stability, comfort, love, and protection in the tightly harmonious relationship of the Trinity. Believers know the Father, Son, and Spirit deeply love each other and that we can never come between them. He then tied it to parenting, in that to be a good parent is to have an unbreakable, loving, joyful marriage in the Lord for the child to see, to find protection, love, and comfort in. My husband then remarked how many women separate being a mother from being a wife and that being a good mother in many ways begins by being a good wife who fights a for healthy marriage that glorifies the Lord. I really think this is true, but I also know many Godly mothers that do not have a husband who serves the Lord or a husband at all.

My niece then said motherhood makes her think of discipline, cooking, cleaning, teaching, and being willing to apologize to her children when she fails. I think there is a ring of truth in this as well. I find this true in both my mom’s and in my life. Yet there are good moms who have to work and have outside help for these tasks and chores.

I love what my friend wrote because you feel the incessant thoughts that every mom has:

Motherhood is a broad subject. The first verse that popped into my mind was John 15:13: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” I think I’ve told you how I would remember that verse when I was wiping pee off the toilet and doing the same tasks every day. Motherhood is a self-sacrifice to raise the next generation. Or you could talk about the importance of motherhood in raising the next generation. Like laying a firm foundation of love, stability, faith, morality, worldview, work ethic, etc. under your children. Or you could talk about how Christ uses our vocation of motherhood to sanctify us. We can’t accomplish this great task without divine help. Our weaknesses, selfishness, laziness, etc. is exposed under the daily necessity of keeping our kids alive.

AMEN! Many other women have told me about the self-sacrifice of Motherhood. How there is no “me” or “what I want” any longer…only what our children and/or husband needs. Take heart sweet sister, Christ is our example. He gave his life for others…why? To glorify the Father and to be an example for us. He washed feet, he stayed up late, he submits to the Father, He cries with us, and he gave up his life to save us. So moms and future moms, love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind and love your neighbor (children) as yourself. Fear the Lord. Know in your weakness he is strong. Motherhood is a gift and sacrifice that we cannot do on our own. Let me close with the Scripture that my niece memorized when she is struggling: Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

~ Colleen

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The Law of Kindness

“She opens her mouth with wisdom; and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.”
~Proverbs 31:26

Dear sister,

I like to think of myself as a generally kind person. I’m not rude or mean to people. I generally speak well of people in their presence and away from it. Yet when I read Proverbs 31:26 I am reminded of how often I fall short when it comes to being kind to others. I’m reminded of the many times I have tried to control my frustration with others and exhibit patience toward them and then not been able to contain it fully and end up making an exasperated remark in an unkind tone of voice that I now regret.

So maybe simply being a “nice” person isn’t exactly what King Lemuel is getting at here as he writes the thirty-first chapter of Proverbs. What is this ‘teaching of kindness’ that he speaks of, and what all does this entail?

In other versions the word ‘law’ is supplied in place of ‘teaching’. A law is something that we live by or abide by. Most of us when we get into our cars automatically reach for our seat belt because the law requires it of us and is therefore our duty to abide by it. Because we are obligated to fulfill the law we are in the habit of clicking our seat belts into place. In the same way, we, as women of God, are to live by the law or teaching of kindness and be in the habit of being kind, so much so that it is an automatic reflex.

Kindness is more than simply being nice to people. Kindness entails responding graciously to others even when they might not deserve it. In other versions we see ‘mercy’ and ‘faithful instruction’ is used instead of kindness so we can incorporate these meanings into the word as well. Kindness, according to Proverbs 31:26 is not just an attitude, it’s a way of life–‘the teaching of kindness is on her tongue’. We should be in the habit of being kind of others. A gracious response should be our first response no matter what the situation is.

Now, if you’re like me (and you are), then you’re a sinner and it takes more than just reading this verse and understanding what it means to be a kind and gracious person. We actually have to practice it. This means that we should take every opportunity to show kindness and that when we fail to respond graciously we should go to the person we have spoken harshly to, ask for forgiveness and tell them what we should have said.

Being kind to others is not always easy, but we are not alone in our pursuit to be courteous and gracious to others. Kindness is part of the fruit of the Spirit and if we have the Spirit in us, He is cultivating this virtue in our lives. We must depend fully on the enabling of the Spirit and on the strength of the Lord to grow in this virtue. Without the Spirit we will be hopelessly unable to be kind to anyone.

Grace and peace to you, dear sister,

Your sister,

Kayla