World Mother’s Day

The Burden of Motherhood

Today is World Mother’s Day. It’s another opportunity to reflect on the estate of the family and the place of the mother in it.

If we attempt to delve into the nitty gritty of Motherhood, I suppose that we will run out of time and space. (Last year, I wrote this as my tribute to mothers.)

This year, however, a different scripture has been the focus of my meditations.

Look to Abraham your father, And to Sarah who bore you; For I called him alone, And blessed him and increased him.”

Isaiah 51:2 (KJV)

This verse is a gold mine. However, I would restrict this tribute to the second part of the verse.

And to Sarah who bore you…

This was addressed to the children of Israel, and the Prophet says: “Look to…Sarah who bore you.” A few thoughts here for our consideration:

Let’s notice the word bore. It has several meanings. However in keeping with the context, I will advance three translations of the root word for bore: The Hebrew – Chîyl.

First; it is commonly used to mean ‘writhe in pain’, as in the travails of the birthing process. If there is any one event that is almost synonymous with motherhood, I think that one event will be the travails of birth. This is not to say that only women who have gone through the birth process are mothers or that all women who have gone through the birth process are mothers (although by definition they are admissible).

The point is that there is a pain that defines Motherhood, is such a way nothing else does. Or, to put there differently, motherhood is forged in the furnace of travail.

Second; The second use of the word Chîyl means to form. As in, the thing that forms. This almost goes without saying. A Mother forms. This is one of the hallmarks of true motherhood. It forms. The heart of motherhood nurtures, tends, and cares. It seeks the best outcome from its progeny. It guards with all jealousies the dreams of it’s children. It is willing to pay almost any price to secure a favorable outcome for its offspring.

Indeed, faithful are the wounds of a mother.

Third; It speaks of bringing forth. This is more than the birth process. A good mother brings forth. She brings forth virtue out of her children. She brings forth virtue out of the children of others. She validates their vision as much as possible and supports it with all tenacity. Through the ministry of the rod and staff, she cultivates good character in her children. Their good is her ultimate goal even if it will cause them pain in the process.

She sees in them what they do not see, and is committed to their manifestation.

Notice that Sarah in history bore Issac. However, in Prophecy, she is defined as the mother of Israel the nation. My considered opinion is that in Isaac she laid a mothering template, that was strong enough to define her ancestry. She was not just a pattern mother. She was a mother who laid a pattern for all time’s sake.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers reading this. We see the work that you all do, and we are the better for it. Thank you for taking on the pain and the burden. We love you without any reserve.