A Jewish proverb rightly affirms what most of us have experienced: “A mother understands what a child does not say”. They can hear sentences in the silence of their children. God has given mothers the special gift of intuition because it gives her a strong sense of what is right for her children, what they are good at, how they may excel in the future and what gifts and abilities she needs to make sure are developed in their lives as God intended.
Author T.D. Jakes in his book, “Mother Made the Difference”, provides several roles that mothers generally perform that shape the life of a child to become a contributing member of the society.
Mothers are timeless teachers in the classroom of life. Mothers remain some of our most powerful teachers in the hands-on laboratory of everyday living. Of all their many attributes…all that comes down to is the heart – a mother’s heart. It has everything to do with the tenderness and toughness, the compassion and conscientiousness of the heart. There is nothing quite as comforting as having our mother’s arm wrapped around us when we are sad, lonely, hurt or afraid.
Mothers teach us to believe in God. Mothers teach us the value of God’s word through their lives, personal prayer life and dependence on God’s strength and wisdom.
Mothers teach us to have confidence and belief in ourselves. Mothers know from experience how important it is for people to believe in themselves in order for children to be whole, strong and grow with a healthy estimation of oneself. One way of parents to breed confidence in a child is to affirm and sharpen his/her thinking. A healthy sense of self-confidence can result in a person to achieve more and celebrate more. A mother’s lessons in life gives us the space to believe in oneself, as there is no limit to greatness one can attain or the great things you can accomplish.
Mothers teach us to pray. Prayer is taught by example. It is lived… and it is a legacy that is passed on to our children. A woman who can talk to God and hear from Him is a force of strengths and beauty like no other.
There is an old Spanish saying – “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of priest”. A mother’s prayers are a priceless gift, a real treasure, an earnest heartfelt force of power. If you have a mother who prays for you, you are indeed truly blessed.
Mothers teach us to live out our legacy. Scripture is certainly consistent about reminding us that we will reap what we sow, and for many of us, our mothers – the greatest women in our lives sowed beautiful seeds of truth, wisdom, joy and peace, a spiritual harvest that is now bearing fruit in us and our children. Mothers have always made a difference and will continue to do so.
Mothers have often shaped our world from the cradle by rocking, nurturing and instructing children who grow up to make life changing and history making accomplishments. For every priest, politician, volunteer worker, employee, fashionista, technician, community worker, doctor, caregiver among others, there is a mother behind them who fostered her child to reach his/her full potential.
As we honour our mothers this month, we are reminded of Mary, the Mother of God. We gather a faith and learning community today to give special recognition and thanks to the important women in our lives.
