Why you Should be a Godly Mother

When I call to remembrance your genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. II Timothy 1:5

The word ‘mother’ can be used both as a verb and a noun. As a noun it means a woman in relation to her child and as a verb it means to bring up with care and affection. From these definitions and our observations around us, we realise that mothers do not always have to be the natural or biological woman who conceived the child. A woman may experience motherhood through natural birth, adoption, or surrogacy.

Influence is the capacity to affect the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something. Thus, the question is: how can mothers influence their child’s character, development or behavior? From our focal text, we learn that the genuine faith in Timothy’s grandmother was passed on to his mother and then to him.

Shortly before the Israelites were to enter the Promised Land (Canaan) after their forty years of sojourn in the desert, God gave them a set of rules to guide their new life. These rules covered every facet of their life, including parenting.  In Deuteronomy 6:7, God commands the Israelites to teach his commandments diligently to their children. They were to teach their children when they sit in the house, walk by the way, lie down, and rise. In addition, they were to write them on the doorposts of their homes.

This is intentional parenting. The truth is that God’s Word must first dwell richly in us before we can transfer it to our children.

The pages of the Bible are filled with accounts of godly women who raised champions because they trusted in God’s Word and chose to see their children as special and not ordinary. The dividends of their decision were obvious to all. Hannah prayed earnestly for a child and promised God that she would bring him to the temple after he was weaned. When God answered her prayer by giving her Samuel, she kept her word and did just that when the time was due (1 Samuel 1:11, 28) What about the bravery of Moses’mother who hid her son to keep him from being killed because she could see that he was no ordinary child (Exodus 2: 1 – 10)? There is also Mary who believed the prophecy spoken by the angel Gabriel concerning Jesus, treasured them in her heart, and eventually saw them fulfilled (Luke 1:45).

The path of motherhood is strewn with roses, which may have thorns, but it certainly yields great returns for those who tread upon it in the strength of the Lord.

Reflection: In what way is God leading you to be a godly mother?

Prayer: Father strengthen my feeble heart and enable me to raise godly children for your kingdom in Jesus’ name.