Why did God invent mothers?

Mothering Sunday 30^th March 2025 – the talk I gave today at Family Church

Happy Mothering Sunday! Can I hear a cheer for all the mums?

When I talk about mothers today, I am speaking about those who are mums, women who long for kids, women who maternally support others, people who have mums, people who have lost mums, those whose relationship with mum is difficult. Everyone.

The children have been writing down for us what they love about their mums.

I’ve also asked some mums:

• What they love most about being a mum
• What they find hardest being mum

Mum 1

1. Seeing them play/have fun/laugh altogether (which happens regularly)
2. Having to repeat myself ALL THE TIME

Mum 2

1. What I love most about being a mum is that you know you’re doing something worthwhile each day. Having children was God’s first commandment for us, so caring for them and providing for them is one of our highest purposes.
2. The hardest thing about being a mum is the tiredness! It’s a job that doesn’t end!

Mum 3

1. I love everything about being a mum, but especially the close, loving bond between me and my child, cherishing each other, watching them blossom to become who they are, safe.
2. The hardest thing is letting them go, and adjusting to a changing role.

Mum 4

Of course. Off the top of my head, as a mother of adult children:

1. Encouraging and supporting them to develop their own interests and talents.

2. Not being able to fix everything for them once they have flown the nest.

Mum 5

1. A deepening relationship as they grow up

2. ⁠Not being able to fix (big) things for them as they venture into the world on their own

Mum 6

1. The Love I have for my children – they are my everything and my purpose. I was definitely called to be a mum and I have been so blessed.

2. It’s hard work and never stops! Finding time to breathe gets easier as they grow but it still gets you sometimes and when the kids fight it’s trying. Xxx

Mum 7

1. I’ve loved seeing their characters develop and them growing into beautiful adults.

2. When life is hard and there is nothing you can do to make it better.

 

What does the Bible have to say about mums? We learn that:

1. God honours mothers – in the 10 commandments & Jesus quotes that commandment, too.
2. Jesus had a mother – what was her role?Carrying and giving birth to him. Jesus IS God. He didn’t have to be born as a human. God could have chosen another way to appear to his people. Yet he chose to become miniscule and to be fed and protected in Mary’s womb. To be a baby. To be held and nurtured and fed and weaned by his mum. The more I think about this, the more staggered I am. This was God’s choice. This is how much He honoured the role of earthly mum. God put us in families and chose to be born into a human family.Mary was the one to kick-start Jesus’ ministry. Telling the servants at the Cana wedding – do whatever He says. She knew Him better than anyone on earth. Saw His unique gifting, his anointed ministry, his divine moment. John 19, 25-27 When he was dying on the cross, he took care of this same earthly mum.  She was a widow by then and without his 1stborn son, could be vulnerable. So he put her in a new family with his closest friend, John.
3. God is mother to us – our comforter

2 Corinthians 1, 3-7 God of all comfort

• Just like every good thing in creation, the role of mother was created in God’s image. Mums across the world and throughout history have reflected the nature of God himself.
• Every caress, every soft kiss, every meal lovingly made, every sleepless night with a little one, every task that keeps the family safe and well, mopping up dirt and sick, every gentle reprimand, every hour sat at a sick child’s bedside, every tear shed in silent, every prayer for a hurting child, every dream for a brighter future. THIS. This is our parent, our mother God.
• Holy Spirit the Comforter. Isaiah 66 and so often called the Comforter. It’s  no accident that in the Shack, Holy Spirit is a mother – do read or watch it if you haven’t yet.

The 2^nd time through, read the quotes – this time from a God perspective, thinking what God’s mother heart is like.

Something from these quotes is going to jump out at you. Ponder it. Meditate on it. Talk to God about it.

Mum 1

• Seeing them play/have fun/laugh altogether (which happens regularly)
• Having to repeat myself ALL THE TIME

Mum 2

• What I love most about being a mum is that you know you’re doing something worthwhile each day. Having children was God’s first commandment for us, so caring for them and providing for them is one of our highest purposes.
• The hardest thing about being a mum is the tiredness! It’s a job that doesn’t end!

Mum 3

• I love everything about being a mum, but especially the close, loving bond between me and my child, cherishing each other, watching them blossom to become who they are, safe.
• The hardest thing is letting them go, and adjusting to a changing role.

Mum 4

Of course. Off the top of my head, as a mother of adult children:

1. Encouraging and supporting them to develop their own interests and talents.

2. Not being able to fix everything for them once they have flown the nest.

[I did wonder if this applies to God, but in many ways it does. God could choose to fix us, but if He take away our choices, our agency, but that would lessen our humanity.]

Mum 5

1. A deepening relationship as they grow up

2. ⁠Not being able to fix (big) things for them as they venture into the world on their own

Mum 6

1. The Love I have for my children – they are my everything and my purpose. I was definitely called to be a mum and I have been so blessed.

2. It’s hard work and never stops! Finding time to breathe gets easier as they grow but it still gets you sometimes and when the kids fight it’s trying. Xxx

Mum 7

1. I’ve loved seeing their characters develop and them growing into beautiful adults.

2. When life is hard and there is nothing you can do to make it better.

How often are you turning to God for your comfort?

If you lost your mum or she’s far away, reach out to mother God. If your earthly mum relationship is imperfect or broken, reach out to God now.

Is God putting someone on your heart who you can show this comfort to?