Proverbs 31:30-31 | God Bless Our Moms

“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:30-31). With it being mother’s day this last Sunday (I totally slacked on writing this), it’s only natural to give a shoutout to all the moms--especially mine. I know my life would be very different if I did not have the love, guidance, and care given to me by my mom. What a blessing a mother’s love is, and I thank God for having my mom in my life.

And it is in the love and care of a good mother that we can put a face to the tenderness and gentleness of God’s love. God made man and woman, and in many ways, I believe He intended the family unit to be one of the--if not the most--powerful illustrations of who He is. We have the father, mother, and children, all playing a role in the family unit; the mother provides a refuge of care and comfort that sustains the household and brings warmth to the home. Without a mother’s love, one can grow up to be cold and indifferent, and struggle in finding and cultivating intimacy. And it is in intimacy with God that we are all truly longing for--in this way, a mother’s love is a powerful guide and compass that points to God’s true selfless and abounding lovingkindness.

1) The fruit of her hands

While a mom’s love is crucial to the raising of children and their development, we as people--including all moms--are called to an even greater love. Once again, a mother’s love for a child can provide a powerful display of God’s care and kindness; I have borne witness to this truth through my mom. But, we as humans--with moms included--all eventually find ourselves pressed and pushed towards breaking-points; we don’t love perfectly. A mother whose love can be so caring and gentle, can also become stressed and irritable as a child grows up (understandably so, in many ways *thinking of teenagers here*).

The time and effort required for raising kids is a great responsibility (not that I know first-hand yet), and it is a serious matter in the grand scheme of things. It is no surprise when Proverbs 22