How can moms show Christ to their families? As we celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, I want to encourage moms by sharing seven simple ways Christian mothers can reveal Jesus in their homes.
Christian moms face a lot of pressure today. When you see that “picture perfect” family out enjoying another wonderful adventure, you feel like such a failure for not providing the same experience for your kid. When you scroll through Pinterest and see all the cool ideas you never thought of, you feel like you are falling short.
How about that Facebook friend who posts pictures of their kid’s birthday party that looks more like a circus came to town than a kid’s birthday party? All you could get is cheap pizza and cupcakes for your child’s small party, and you are too embarrassed to post any pictures. Look at the bright side, at least no kids are running scared from a clown in your backyard.
You are not a failure if you are not a Pinterest-perfect mom. The greatest things you can provide for your kids cannot be bought with money. When God selected Mary to be the mother of Jesus, did He ask her how much money she could get her hands on? Was He concerned with her ability to plan awesome birthday parties for the Messiah? Was He looking for a world traveler who could give Jesus a lifetime of unforgettable experiences? No! None of these things is even remotely hinted at in Scripture.
What was God looking for? What are some characteristics of godly mothers in Scripture? How can Christian moms display these qualities in their homes today?
- Godly moms love God more than they love their kids.
Jesus clearly said the greatest thing we can do is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. When we love God correctly, we set the stage to love others correctly. The “others” mentioned aren’t just neighbors, coworkers and strangers. The “others” begin at home. If our relationship with God is out of harmony, it will destruct our interpersonal relationships as well. A healthy home begins with each member of the family walking in harmony with God.
- Godly moms love their kids.
I almost left this one off the list because it seems so obvious. Unfortunately, many moms haven’t experienced godly love from others and struggle with understanding what it looks like. If this is you, can I encourage you to deeply study 1 Corinthians 13? This passage powerfully describes relational love. By the way, these truths aren’t just for moms. They are for husbands, wives, kids, parents, church members and friends. God’s love is true love. He wants us to know His love and share it with others.
- Godly moms are selfless.
One of the chief aspects of God’s love is selflessness. Yet, the self is America’s favorite idol. Mary the mother of Jesus put herself aside to become the mother of the Messiah. Was she unfulfilled in life because of this? Absolutely not! She exclaimed how blessed she was in powerful praise to God (see Luke 1:46-56).
Whenever you display selfless love to your kids, you are showing them God’s heart. When you sit up half the night nursing a sick child, you are showing them God’s heart. When you make sure they are fed before you feed yourself, you are showing them God’s heart. When you make sure they have clean clothes to wear, you are showing them God’s heart.
- Godly moms realize they are stewards entrusted with a precious gift from God.
How could Mary praise God when her future was radically changed by God in a way she could never dream? In our modern world, kids are seen as a burden more than a blessing. Mary had the opposite view. She had God’s view. From Old Testament to New Testament, the Bible is clear, children are a parent’s most precious resource. Parenting is a privilege given by God.
- Godly moms pray for their kids.
Would you like to be able to give your kids an awesome gift? Prayer is that gift. You may be tempted to roll your eyes, but let me explain. If you had the opportunity to talk to the richest or most powerful person in the world about your kids, you would do it in a heartbeat. The Creator-King of the universe invites us to talk with Him anytime we want through prayer. The richest and most powerful person in the world does not know what we need the most, but the Creator-King does! The greatest work God is doing is in you and in your children. Don’t just pray for Him to do things for them or through them. Pray first and foremost for the work He is doing in them.
- Godly moms are most concerned with the spiritual well-being of their kids.
I love sports. I played sports as a kid and I learned a lot of important life lessons through sports. Don’t take what I am about to say as an all-out attack on sports. You can raise the greatest athlete in the world, yet if you value their athletic success more than their spiritual well-being, you have misplaced your God-given parental priorities. The same applies to academics.
One of the greatest things a Christian mom can do for her children is to instill in them the importance of spiritual priorities. How can moms do that? By living out a close relationship with God in front of their kids. This is why point one is so important. When they see you modeling a close walk with Jesus, they will understand how your spiritual values inform your moment-by-moment decisions.
- Godly moms trust God to provide what is best for their kids.
Mary trusted God to provide what she needed to raise Jesus, even when it didn’t make sense. Can you imagine the tremendous pressure of raising the Messiah? When Jesus was born, they couldn’t welcome the King of kings in a palace. They couldn’t afford a circus for his birthday party. Yet God was pleased with their parenting.
The pressure to be a perfect parent evaporates when we realize that ultimately God is guiding and directing the lives of our children, whatever age they may be. We already have everything we need to raise our kids in a godly way. If you are walking closely with Jesus, you are setting yourself up for success as a mom. God will be pleased with your parenting.
May we see a generation of strong Christian mothers influence the future of our world by raising godly children! Thank you, Lord, for the many godly women who have influenced my life in significant ways. May their tribe increase!