The Reward of a Mother's Love

Imagine every time you walked down a busy New York sidewalk you thought, I wonder if today is the day I meet her? Or “Could she be my mom?” “What if she is my mom?” That was me for a while during my teenage years and into early adulthood. I grew up with a loving father who was supported by his mom, his sister, and eventually his new wife, so I didn’t always know what I missed by not knowing my mom. With everyone pitching in, they really made up the difference. While all of this was true and I was grateful, as I got older, I yearned for my mom. I wanted to know what she looked like, where she lived, who she was, if I looked like her, and a million other thoughts and questions.

It wasn’t until I turned 21 that I reunited with my mom and understood why things were the way they were. She candidly told me that she knew I would not be raised correctly if I was in her care. I was filled with emotion after meeting my mother and hearing her explanation. I felt gratitude to the Lord for arranging for us to meet and I also felt compassion for a woman who did what she knew was best.

I am reminded of the stories of Jochebed and Mary. I think about how Jochebed went against the culture as she made plans to preserve her infant son, Moses, by placing him in a basket and setting it among the reeds on the bank of the Nile River. She must have felt such heartache when she walked away from the river bank and hoped her plan would work (Exodus 2:1-10). I also think about what life was like for Mary. I imagine she experienced many emotions when Jesus went to the cross to die for the sins of the world, but in her heart, she knew he was doing the will of God.

What these women teach us through their example of motherhood is to trust the Lord with all aspects of our assignments. Having my own daughter, I realize that just as the Lord was with these mothers, He was with me and those caring for me during my upbringing, and He is still available to help today.

Today, I would like to encourage and honor my mom, the women who raised me, and mothers across the globe to walk in the calling that the Lord has for you. Remember that the rewards are great in the end and know that your labor is not in vain.

Heavenly Father, please bless and guide women all over the world who have or are operating in some capacity as a mother. Whether we’ve given birth to a child, experienced the loss of a child, have a wayward child, are a stepmom, an adoptive mother, or desire a child but just haven’t seen the end of that faith journey, made a tough decision to give a child up for adoption, or are recovering from an abortion ... the list goes on. But Lord, thank you for all of us because you created us to be used for glory. Comfort us with the truth that our labor is not in vain. Thank you for rewarding the diligent, In Jesus' name, Amen!