As we approach the day each year that we celebrate Mothers and motherhood, I thought it appropriate to take time to honor the institution of Motherhood. Interestingly, it just occurred to me that this subject is not that far removed from my previous blog on individual rights verses group rights. After all as any mother of multiple children can tell you each child is different and unique in their own right. Thus using a blanket or “group think” approach to raising your children doesn’t work.
What works with one child doesn’t always work with the other. Motherhood is the most challenging profession in the world because it encompasses teaching, training, counseling, nursing and crisis management. Above all it requires a big love that is willing to sacrifice her personal dreams and desires to put family first. My mother was a great example of one who was always there for us encouraging us and cheering us on as my brother and I pursued our passions. She was my dress designer and seamstress. My formals were unique, one of a kind designs!
Motherhood is important because it is the mothers who prepare the next generation. I have always been fascinated by the book of II Kings with the listing of all the kings of Israel and Judah. When the people rejected God as their King he gave them an earthly king knowing that the people would only be as good as the king that leads them. I began to notice that one king would be rebellious following after other gods and the next would love God and bring the people back to true worship. How did that happen? Since, in Judah, the kingship was through the bloodline how did an evil king raise a good king?
The answer is they didn’t. It was the mothers who raised the children. In 90% of instances where the next in line takes over the throne the name of his mother, where she was from and who her father was is given. This caught my attention because God doesn’t mention names in the Bible unless He is making a point. What I noticed was that most of the time these women were from Israel/Judah and were daughters of priests or other leaders. The kings that married foreign women that worshiped other gods raised ungodly kings.
So it could be presumed that choosing a wife is very important to God because it will determine the fate of the next generation. The other point that struck me is that these women trained their boys in the knowledge of God and taught them to fear the Lord God. Godly mothers raise kings and priests for the kingdom of God. We can tell a lot about leaders by knowing their mothers. George Washington’s mother was a prayer warrior and she mentored young George in prayer. A lifestyle of prayer was so imparted to him that he even wrote out his prayers (which is now a book) each morning and evening.
Motherhood is a blessing and a responsibility that we need to embrace. Feminism has done much to destroy this very important foundation of civilization. I can remember back in the late seventies the message being conveyed was that in order to be fulfilled, a woman needs to be free sexually and have a career. Motherhood, especially if you chose to stay home, was looked down upon. Sadly, far too many of us bought this lie. The good news is that the lie has been exposed and more women today are choosing to stay home and be mothers that will raise and train the next generation of leaders.
May God Bless and guide mothers everywhere!
Next Week: What Makes Government Legitimate?
Dinner Table Discussion Question: Contrast the role of parents versus the role of government in a child’s life.