Real Men Honor Their Wives and Mothers on Mother’s Day and Every Day
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Proverbs 31:25-28 NIV).
Mother’s Day is a great time for us to stop and honor our mothers and the mother of our children. As fathers it is important that we model for our children the importance of honoring their mother. Our mothers mean so much to all of us. Abraham Lincoln once said, “He is not poor who has had a godly mother.”
Nobody can multitask like a mother. Regardless of her professional occupation, the momma bear is a multitasker that is always focused on the family. Think about her example, support, humor, counsel, humility, hospitality, wisdom, patience, sacrifices, faith, hope, and love. “God couldn’t be everywhere, so He made mothers.” While not theologically accurate, this old Jewish saying describes beautifully the significant role mothers have in our lives. Motherhood is one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity. A loving, committed mother is an indispensable person in our development.
Mother’s Day is an important day for fathers because our children are always watching us. Little boys learn how to treat their future wives by watching their fathers. Little girls learn how they should be treated by a future husband by watching their fathers. When our children are grown, they likely will not remember anything that we said or did any year on Mother’s Day. However, they will remember the feeling in the air. Was there a feeling of love and honor or was there a feeling of resentment and bitterness?
Our children will notice if our actions on Mother’s Day were consistent with the rest of the year. Each day, not just on Mother’s Day, husbands are to, “love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). Perhaps the Bible’s most impactful reference to mothers is a subtle mention in the book of Isaiah: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13).
Mothers are also designed by God to nurture, and they do it exceptionally well. When the apostle Paul was describing his love for the church at Thessalonica, he used the metaphor of a mother’s love to describe how deeply he cared for them. He reminded them that he was like a “gentle” mother who “tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7). Also, when God described His love for Israel, He did so with a motherhood metaphor. He told Israel that He would comfort them like a mother comforts her children (Isaiah 66:13).
Men, God has blessed us all with mothers. Regardless if yours is alive or gone on to glory, give her special honor this day and offer prayers of thanksgiving for her role in your life.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for mothers. They are so very special to us. May we honor and love them as Christ loved the church. Amen.
Gulf South Men is a regional ministry coming along side churches and men’s ministries by offering Education, Training, Resources, Men’s Events and Mentoring to help churches build effective men’s ministry and make disciples for Christ.
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Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and is in training to be a Certified Lay Minister through the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and is a Board Member for Gulf South Men and serves on the Action Team for The Kingdom Group. He is a volunteer for the Walk to Emmaus, Grace Camp, and Iron Sharpens Iron. Todd resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.