Despite all the clamor of our age, being a mother is still one of the most exciting and exacting of all callings. Today's mom fills many roles for her family: businesswoman, carpenter, financial planner, teacher, doctor, counselor and chauffeur.
To accomplish all this, a mother must be a deeply spiritual person, a sociologist, a humanitarian, and a person of great tact and boundless energy. Rearing children demands that mothers walk surefootedly along the cutting edge of life, amid the tragedies, frustrations, heartaches and precious dreams of their children who must face on every hand uncertainty, change and fear.
It is the mother who usually lives closest to her children. She teaches them right from wrong and implants a sense of responsibility. A mother also sets the emotional well-being of the household. She fashions the sense of security that is the mark of every truly godly home. Above all, a mother must believe and prove that parenting is not a part-time job, but a divine calling from God, the very purpose of life.
Requirements for success as a mother are a matter of both mind and heart. Ask yourself the following questions to see whether your priorities of motherhood are in place.
Are you willing to sacrifice to be a good mother? Buying new furniture is always tempting; new clothes would be fun, but if they're obtained at the price of your child's well-being, the cost is too high. Find creative ways to balance work and home time.
Do you recognize that the task of motherhood takes time? I remember fondly my mother helping me with my homework and school projects. It's a sacrifice to sit down with your children and enter their world for an hour or two. But that time will reassure them that you love them.
Can your children count on your presence? This doesn't mean staying at home with them every day, talking with them every minute, or playing with them continually, but it does mean that when they need you, you are there.
Do you reflect the joy of your calling? Mothers who complain of the enormity of their tasks will produce children with poor self-images or anger problems. Let your children know that you are happy and proud to be their parent.
Do you deliberately involve yourself in the lives of your children? How are things going for them at school? What are their friends like? What projects can the family carry out together? How long since Mom and Dad studied a book of the Bible together with the children? Are you familiar with the hopes and aspirations of your children? Do you lend them an attentive ear?
Most importantly, mothers who want to give their best to their children should first give their all to God. The Bible teaches, "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his [her] own way; and the Lord hath laid on him [Jesus Christ] the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:6). Our selfish longings have separated each of us from the God who created us. But there is hope and a free offer of reconciliation, for God sent His Son to bring us back. "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life" (John 3:36).
Mother, why not invite Jesus Christ to take over your life? Why not do it today?
G. Heyland
