“An excellent wife who can find?
Proverbs 31:10-31
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.”
The ESV bible titles this section “The Woman Who Fears the Lord”, the NASB “Description of a Worthy Woman”, the NRSV “Ode to a Capable Wife”. A fitting title for a section that describes a complete, Godly woman. It is not a checklist for men to compare their wives, a standard for single men to expect women to live up to, nor a means for children to point out where their mothers fall short. The ESV study bible says, “This lofty portrait of excellence sets such a high standard that it can be depressing to godly women today until its purpose is understood.” 1 The focus of this passage is to show us the ideal woman, one who displays sharp application of wisdom at every turn and in every area of her life. But we all know that this can never be lived up to. But we can appreciate from this passage where the women in our lives bring us joy through their emulation of these characteristics.
My life is truly blessed by a Proverbs 31 mother and wife. And with the birth of our first child I’ve seen my wife blossom into a great mother! This month, in the month of Mother’s Day we dive into a song called, Call Her Blessed, by Stacey Noll. The first line opens with a heartfelt recognition of God’s role in the formation of our lives “You knew me in my mother’s womb, spoke my name before time / You placed me in my mother’s arms knowing I would be fine / She saw my first step, / she heard my first word / I’m fearfully and wonderfully made” These lines pull from Jeremiah 1:5 and Psalms 139:4. The first being the call of Jeremiah. Long before Jeremiah was born, God knew him and knew the plan he had for him! Though not the most aesthetically pleasing of events, there is nothing in life more beautiful than the birth of a child. Women are blessed (though it doesn’t always feel good) with having a direct role in the creation of life, the continuation of bearing God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). “As I grew, she taught me to follow You showed me how to love the way You do / Every time I fell, she was there to pick me up / She held me close and then she let me go” The second part of this verse acknowledges the way our mothers raise and train us as Proverbs 22:6 commands.
The chorus praises our mothers for all they have done in our lives and how they pointed us to God! “Bless the one who gave me life / Bless the one who held me in her arms / Bless the one who told me that Jesus loves me so / You have heard her prayers, You have seen her tears / We rise and call her blessed mother’s love is precious, / so faithful and pure” This last part of the chorus pulls from Proverbs 31:28, “Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her”. Children do not neglect your mothers, they have loved, sacrificed, and cared for you your entire life. We owe them so much!
Now I know that every mother-child relationship is not Hallmark movie material. There are some who feel suffocated by the crippling grip of a mother’s attempt to control their lives. Some feel forgotten and abandoned as they never hear from their mothers. Some feel uncertain and confused, caught in webs of manipulation and emotional abuse. And even worse still some feel unworthy and broken by the physical abuse of a violent mother. My heart breaks for you and wish that all could have mothers who loved them. Even though God is purposefully called our heavenly father, the attributes of a good mother come from God who is without gender. I pray in the void of a loving mother you would feel the love of God in your lives and know that he cares for you. Think on Psalms 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” and reflect on Romans 8:31-39 with last verses saying, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
If you are one of these mothers, do not despair, nor be too proud to overlook your failures. We serve a gracious and patient God! Who is ready to receive you with open arms (Luke 15:20-24). If you do not know Him repent of your sin and trust Jesus Christ as the saving sacrifice for your sins and submit to him as the ruling Lord of your life (Romans 10:8-10)! And if you do know Him, the beginning step is the same repent and seek the forgiveness of our merciful God (Psalms 32:5). Once right with God, seek out those you have hurt and seek their forgiveness. Don’t let another moment pass without seeking reconciliation for the wrongs you have done.
Appreciation of our mothers and the mothers of our children should not wait until Walmart has a section of cards for it, we should do it as often as we see them or think of them. But in this dedicated time of Mother’s Day, thank your mother for the blessing they have been in your lives and thank the God who gave her to you.
Until next time, keep listening for the WORD in music! #CultivatingFaithOrg