The Cambridge Dictionary defines motherhood as “the state or time of being a mother.” While I am not a mother, I had the privilege of knowing my own mother. My mother passed many years ago; however, many of her lessons still stay with me. If you are a mother, you are aware of the love you have for your children and how you want to protect them at all costs.
Motherhood doesn’t only include those who are mothers by blood. Rather, a person can be a mother by adopting children and raising them as her own. Even though she may not be the child’s mother by blood, she is still the child’s mother. Motherhood goes beyond blood because it is rooted in love, care, and compassion.
In the modern day, the term motherhood has been polluted. Instead of meaning the caring love of a mother, it has been turned into simply bearing a child. Being a mother is much more than birthing a child. True motherhood is found in love for their child and their well-being. Anybody can have a child, but it takes great effort to be a mother.
Is Motherhood Mentioned in the Bible?
Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” Discussions of mothers and motherhood are scattered throughout the Bible. The Bible is clear that motherhood is an important role in a woman’s life.
God wants mothers to care for their children and to love them. Children, in turn, should respect and obey their mothers (Ephesians 6:1-3). Our mothers are wise and have much information to tell us. If we ignore their instructions, we will suffer the penalties.
Think about your own mother. She most likely taught you many important lessons as a child as well as an adult. Throughout our lives, we will constantly be learning new things from our mothers. For those of us who have wonderful mothers, we are blessed enough to also have a friend in her.
Motherhood can be a good or a bad thing, depending on how someone lives. Just as there are many wonderful mothers, there are also many hurtful mothers.
If you have a hurtful mother, know that you are not alone. Sometimes we tend to think our mothers are perfect, but they are not. Our mothers have fallen just like us, which means they will also let us down (Romans 3:23).
How Can I Follow God’s Instructions on Motherhood?
Motherhood has the hallmarks of being kind, loving and caring to her family and her husband. Proverbs 31:15 says, “She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants.” The entire chapter of Proverbs 31 discusses the noble wife.
Not only is she a noble wife, but she is also a great mother. She works in the middle of the night and the early morning to provide for her family. There is not a day that goes by when she is idle. She is careful in how she handles her dealings and never purchases something without thinking it over (Proverbs 31:16).
Motherhood is not just for anyone. It is for those who truly want to follow the Lord in their parenthood. To be a mother who loves the Lord means to be someone who shines brightly for Jesus. This will be evident in her dealings with others, her family, and her husband.
Is My Worth and Identity Found in Motherhood?
Within Christian circles, it has become extremely popular for women to find their worth and identity in motherhood. While motherhood is a beautiful thing, a person’s worth and identity are not found in just being a mother. Everyone’s worth, and identity is found in Jesus. When we try to place our worth in other things, we will find that they distract us from the Lord.
We need to remember that we are children of God, and our worth is found in Him. Each of us is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This includes mothers as well as people who are not mothers. Your worth in Christ is not dependent on being a mother or not. You are already worthy in Christ simply for being you.
Even if a person is a mother, they need to reflect on the great promise that we are God’s children. Mothers are expected to carry a heavy load all the time, yet they also need time to be cared for.
Romans 8:17 tells us, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
All of us are heirs of Christ, which means we all have invaluable worth in His eyes. Each of us is worthy to walk in this life. Mothers have an important role, but mothers do not need to tie their entire identity and worth into being a mother. A friend, wife, and daughter are all other things that a woman can be in addition to being a mother.
Is Motherhood Still Important to This Generation?
With all the changes going on in the modern day, it can be hard for many people to see the relevance of motherhood. Being a mother takes time and effort. However, the people who grew up with emotionally absent mothers understand the importance of motherhood within this present generation.
The most talked about generation is Gen Z. This generation has had many negative things spoken about it, but they are making strides in changing how they live. One of these changes is the different view they have when it comes to motherhood. Gen Z is working hard to try to be the “perfect mom,” yet they feel they are falling short.
Gen Z moms feel less confident when compared to Millennial moms because of pressure from social media. None of us are strangers when it comes to the comparison game on social media. Rather than accepting ourselves as we are, we feel inferior because influencers, friends, and family members appear to have their lives figured out.
The truth is that social media is not real. It is a highlight reel where everyone posts the happy times while ignoring the bad times. Try to remember this when you are on social media. Everything you see is not necessarily the truth.
Is it Wrong to Not Want to Be a Mother?
Unfortunately, amongst Christian circles, there is judgment placed upon women who do not want to be mothers. If you do not want to be a mother, know that there is nothing wrong with not wanting to be a mother. Everyone’s life looks different, and for some people, this means being a mother, and for other people it means not being a mother.
Don't be hard on yourself if you don't want to be a mother. There are no commands within the Bible that say all women must be mothers. God has blessed each person with their own unique gifts and their own unique lives. Motherhood is not the road for everyone, and there is no shame in embracing this truth.
Bible Verses on Motherhood
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all’” (Proverbs 31:28-29).
“Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).
“A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world” (John 16:21).
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