A Saintly Mother

Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman?  The Lord's with you."  (Luke 1:28 NLT)


   The world today seems to have forgotten that the highest calling of womanhood is to become a saintly, Christian mother.  God chose a young Jewish virgin to be the mother of His beloved Son.  I picture the mother of Jesus as being mild, gentle, loving, and kind.  She showed great concern when he was discovered missing after the Passover feast in Jerusalem.

   My mother possessed a loving, caring, and gentle humble spirit.  No one every went away from her table hungry.  She reached out to friends and neighbors alike.  Hobos beat a path to her door for a free meal on the back porch.  When asked why she fed them she'd say, "they might be angels in disguise."

   Another mother who possessed similar qualities is my wife, Elaine.  I would describe her as fiercely loyal to her family, responsive to their needs, and faithful in serving her Lord.  Those same qualities were handed down to our daughter who has shown love and concern for her handicapped son for over twenty one years in spite of the fact that she's never heard him utter a single word.

   Proverbs 31:26-29 describe best the lives of a mother and daughter, "When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness.  She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.  Her children stand and bless her.  Her husband praises her: there are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all."  


   Wouldn't you like to have these words said of you?  It can only be done through Jesus.