28th March 2022
Mum’s the word!
But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.
Galatians 4:26 (NIVUK)
No matter what you call your mother: mum, mummy, mom, or mama, one of life’s cruel ironies is that we don’t fully appreciate what our parents did for us until we no longer have them. Age and experience teach us the amount of sacrifice and love involved in being a mother. Most of us are blessed to have fond memories of our mothers – hard working, patient, humorous, tender- hearted, unfailing love – the list is endless.
There is so much I would like to thank my mother for. Her wonderful needlework that kept my sister and me in pretty dresses and warm jumpers. Her perceptive ways in knowing what we were up to! Her constant love for her children no matter what. It is difficult to single out one specific gift our mothers have given us, but I have come to realise that the greatest gift my mother gave me was an awareness of God. She had great faith, she taught me to pray, and she would remind me in difficult times of how ‘the Lord will provide’.
I had no road to Damascus conversion; I was introduced to God as an infant – thanks to my mother and God’s grace. Abraham Lincoln is alleged to have said, ‘I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.’1 As God’s word says, ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.’ (Proverbs 22:6).
For those of us who have not been blessed with maternal love, we do have a ‘mother’. In Matthew 12:49-50, Jesus describes his followers as brothers, sisters and mothers: ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’ Within the fellowship of the church lies the love of strong spiritual relatives, and the heavenly Jerusalem (the church) is described as our mother in Galatians 4:26.
Many of us no longer have our parents, we cannot express our gratitude and love to them. However, we do have, by God’s amazing grace, a spiritual family given to us by Jesus Christ. He is our Creator, Sustainer and Saviour. He is the strongest and most loving ‘relative’ we could ever wish for!
Prayer
Thank you, Loving God, for the gift of family, for adopting us as your children and for your wonderful love. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Study by Irene Wilson
1 https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/g19494587/mother-quotes/
About the writer:
Irene Wilson is a Deaconess in the Watford congregation of Grace Communion International, and also serves on the Pastoral Council.
Local congregation:
Gracecom Watford
St. Peter’s Church
61 Westfield Avenue
Watford, Herts.
WD24 7HF
Meeting time:
Saturday 11am
Local congregational contact:
George Henderson
Email: watford@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church