IT IS PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD THAT MOTHERS ARE HONORED
In a world where popular culture is heavily influenced by mass media and famous personalities, this quarantine period is not just unraveling the true characters of showbiz and political figures but causing havoc to our definition of true heroism as well. Celebrities who are so accustomed in the limelight and adulation are trying everything they can to remain in prominence during this difficult time when most people’s attention are on the more important issues of their very own survival. The shutdown of a popular Filipino network for example, brought so much resentment and ire from the ‘stars’ that sound as if their status and shows are the paramount issues during this crisis and as if our future hangs on their personal predicament.
This is not surprising. We live in a time when a person’s SIGNIFICANCE is being derived from his IMAGE and STATUS. People judge you based on external appearance. POPULARITY becomes more important than INTEGRITY. REPUTATION is preferred over CHARACTER. This is also why we attribute heroism just about to everyone who PUBLICLY demonstrate benevolence and generosity. We call it a ‘sacrifice’ and heroic when someone suffers in the performance of a professional job even if he is compensated for his services. A selfie to every act of kindness becomes a platform for public praise.
No wonder we forget that MOTHERS are so important in our lives. No wonder this world honors Mother’s Day but not the significance of MOTHERHOOD. The selfless sacrifices of mothers are usually hidden, unpublicized and without compensation. So much of their labors are done without a spotlight. And yet, their influence is carried even to our old age. Even to our children. For most of us, we survived and thrived from infancy because they…..
“WERE GENTLE AMONG US, LIKE A NURSING MOTHER TAKING CARE OF HER OWN CHILDREN.” (1 Thess. 2:7)
These words of the Apostle Paul are taken from his letter to the Thessalonian church regarding them as his children.
1 THESSALONIANS 2:6-9
“NOR DID WE SEEK GLORY FROM PEOPLE, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. BUT WE WERE GENTLE AMONG YOU, LIKE A NURSING MOTHER TAKING CARE OF HER OWN CHILDREN. So, BEING AFFECTIONATELY DESIROUS OF YOU, WE WERE READY TO SHARE WITH YOU NOT ONLY THE GOSPEL OF GOD BUT ALSO OUR OWN SELVES, BECAUSE YOU HAD BECOME VERY DEAR TO US. FOR YOU REMEMBER, BROTHERS, OUR LABOR AND TOIL: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”
No wonder, he used the IMAGE OF MOTHERHOOD to explain how they LOVED, CARED, and SUFFERED for their children in the faith. In effect, the Scripture is also describing the divine and special CALLING of every mother as well. No one will give your mom an award for those years of toil and tears. The world will not protest when your mother is no longer the center of attraction (not even herself). She will not gather millions of likes in social media for the years she was a nursing mother caring for you when you can’t even speak a simple ‘thank you’. And yet, the Sovereign King of the universe COMMANDED that you HONOR HER. So important to the Lord that He gave a promise of blessing to those who will obey.
EPHESIANS 6:2-3
“HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “THAT IT MAY GO WELL WITH YOU and that you may live long in the land.”
In a generation where famous celebrities are adored and prized, we do well to look at the woman that sacrificed so much for our lives. God shaped and led much of our younger years through these women. Their vocation as mothers is a valuable tool of influence for us that God expects them to adorn themselves with an inner imperishable beauty. It is very precious to God for them to enhance their INNER CHARACTER.
1 PETER 3:3-4
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be THE HIDDEN PERSON OF THE HEART with the IMPERISHABLE BEAUTY OF A GENTLE AND QUIET SPIRIT, which IN GOD’S SIGHT IS VERY PRECIOUS.
When the life of Paul is about to end. He was in prison and almost everyone abandoned him. It was a very difficult time. But the great consolation in his mind is the remembrance of Timothy’s sincere faith. NOTHING LIFTS OUR SPIRIT DURING SUFFERINGS THAN A RECOLLECTION OF A POWERFUL LIFE TESTIMONY. But the character of Timothy’s faith was INFLUENCED BY TWO MOTHERS, his mom Eunice and grandmother Lois.
2 TIMOTHY 1:5
“I am reminded of your SINCERE FAITH, A FAITH THAT DWELT FIRST IN YOUR GRANDMOTHER LOIS AND YOUR MOTHER EUNICE and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.”
I believe as well that in a difficult time like this, when the pains of crisis is more about the struggles of those we care about than our own, we are inclined to remember the woman who sacrificed and labored so much for our wellbeing, with or without a pandemic. May I encourage you to express a sincere appreciation to your mother one way or another. They are far from perfect of course, but they are the real heroines of our lives.
For others, whose mothers have already passed away, please lift up a prayer of thanksgiving for their love and sacrifice.
A blessed MOTHER’S DAY to all the mothers we personally know.