Mother’s Day can be rough. A day intended to honor and encourage mothers sometimes spirals into disappointment or feeds our feelings of inadequacy. We compare ourselves to other mothers (either in our real world or in the tiny, square pictures on our phones) and conclude that everyone else is doing it “better,” having more fun, or more effectively meeting their kids’ needs.
This Mother’s Day, I’m asking myself, “What, exactly, do kids really need from their mothers?”
- Do they need a crafty mom who helps them do magical things with paper plates, tempera paint, and chenille wires?
- Do they need a sporty mom who plays catch by the hour and puts up a reasonable defense under the basket?
- Do they need a power mom who organizes neighborhood activities and chairs the parent/teacher organization?
I suppose the way one answers the question depends heavily on one’s goals.
What do you want for your children?
Third John says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” John concluded that the best thing he could have done with his life was to build into the spiritual lives of people in the next generation. He was thrilled to learn that they were walking in the truth and living holy lives.
If your greatest hope is to stand before the Lord one day, together with your family, if you desire for your children to walk in holiness and reap the benefits of a life whose “delight is in the Law of the Lord,” what your children need most is your example of holy living.
What kids really need is a pair of holy parents.
Children need a holy mom.
This Mother’s Day, I’m asking myself, “What, exactly, do kids really need from their mothers?”
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What Does It Mean to Be Holy?
Holiness in the Bible comes down to two qualities:
- Separation from evil
- Devotion to God
Holiness is one of God’s communicable attributes, meaning it’s a characteristic of God that he is pleased for his children to imitate. In our own fallen and creaturely way, we are invited into the honor of displaying God’s moral character in our homes and before our children.
Hebrews 12:14 urges us to “strive… for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” Strive is a strong verb! Holiness is not our default, and the writer of Hebrews knew we would have to be intentional about it. He knew that we would need God’s help.
Sadly, I’m sure my efforts to imitate God in my home fell far short of striving. Striving means that some days we will fall short, but even in this, our children learn about the gifts of confession and forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
In your pondering of motherhood today, as you sort through memories and plan for the future, I invite you to use these questions as fuel:
Is my conduct separated from evil and devoted to honoring God?
Using that same definition for holiness, are my words holy?
Are my thoughts holy?
Whatever changes you need to make to your conversations, your entertainment choices, your eating and drinking, your use of time and other resources, know for sure that God, who is completely holy—utterly devoted to his own glory and completely separate from the evil in the world—stands ready to support you in your desire for a happy and holy Mother’s Day.
Holding You in the Light,
Hebrews 12:14 urges us to “strive… for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” STRIVE is a strong verb! Holiness is not our default, and we have to be intentional about it. We need God’s help.
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I’ve Got a New Devotional Plan Ready for You
Grief comes to everyone sooner or later, and whether it’s the death of a loved one or the loss of some cherished aspect of our life or identity, God’s Word is crucial for grieving well. Past hurts have a habit of snagging our hearts in unexpected moments, but God provides abundant grace to help the believer move through grief without getting stuck and without wasting the opportunity to walk more closely with the Lord who lightens our darkness.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
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