Seed Thoughts

//Lynette Hagin
This month we set aside a day to honor our mothers. A survey conducted among children showed that they would choose the love and approval of their mothers over money, fame, or possessions. George Washington said, “My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am, I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual, and physical education I received from her.”

Signs held up at football games show us that moms must be pretty important. I have never seen a “Hi Dad” sign; they always read, “Hi Mom.” Our influence as mothers gives us an awesome responsibility.

Unfortunately, there is no course on motherhood that will totally prepare you for its joys, challenges, heartaches, and laughter. In His plan, God created the father as the head of the home, but the mother is certainly its heart. Here is how the Bible describes a virtuous woman.

Proverbs 31:10–31 (NLT)
Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. Her husband can trust her, and she will greatly enrich his life. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar. She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

She goes to inspect a field and buys it; with her earnings she plants a vineyard. She is energetic and strong, a hard worker. She makes sure her dealings are profitable; her lamp burns late into the night.

Her hands are busy spinning thread, her fingers twisting fiber. She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy. She has no fear of winter for her household, for everyone has warm clothes.

She makes her own bedspreads. She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns. Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits with the other civic leaders. She makes belted linen garments and sashes to sell to the merchants.

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.

Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her: “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!”

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Wow, what a job description! No wonder the old saying goes, “Man may work from sun to sun, but woman’s work is never done.” It seems there is always a task at hand that only a mother can accomplish. When you have a problem, mother knows how to solve it. Mother is the person who can divide her love among many children and still give each child all her love.

A mother inspires her children to be better than they are—whether with a pat on the back when things go right or a hug when things go wrong. A mother helps put the pieces back together, whether they are of a broken doll, a broken date, or a broken relationship. No job on earth takes more physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual strength than being a good mother.

Mothers, I want you to ponder an important question: are you being the “Proverbs 31 woman”? If I asked your children their opinion of you today, would they say as Proverbs 31:28 (NLT) states, “Her children stand and bless her”? We as mothers need to recognize the powerful influence we have on our children. The home is the greatest theological seminary in the world. Our children will learn more about God there than anywhere else.

We don’t really have to say much to teach children about God. Our attitude and deeds at home and the values we live by all teach our children how important God is to us. It is very important that we as mothers become godly examples to our children. The best way to point them to God is to surround them with the love that we have discovered from Him. My father-in-law used to tell parents, “Always surround your children with faith and love.” Faith and love will always lead your children into a victorious life.