Celebrating Mothers

When we contemplate mothers, our usual notion revolves around those who fulfill the role in a tangible manner. We envision women who give birth, wholeheartedly devoting themselves to their children, making sacrifices, and nurturing them through the years until they reach adulthood. Undoubtedly, this perception holds true. Without those who wholeheartedly embrace the physical responsibilities of motherhood, where would we find ourselves? In the realm of faith, we encounter examples like Eve, Mary, and Elizabeth, who selflessly devoted themselves to the wondrous act of bringing life into the world—life that possesses the potential to reshape the course of human history. Imagine if Mary had declined the sacrifice of motherhood or if our own mothers had chosen otherwise. The consequences would be profound.

Nevertheless, motherhood extends beyond a specific group of women; it lies at the core of femininity itself and represents an essential need in the world. While women certainly bring forth children through childbirth, they also give birth in countless other ways as they embrace their distinctive role as nurturers. They give birth to ideas, enterprises, connections, homes, ministries, and communities, to name but a few.

Being a woman means infusing life into every room, every occupation, and every relationship she encounters. Consider the story of Queen Esther from the Bible. Although she may not have borne physical children as far as we know, she breathed life into the entire kingdom of Israel through her bravery and selflessness. In doing so, did she not exemplify the heart of a mother, willingly sacrificing herself for the sake of those who relied on her?

Mothers exhibit a remarkable quality of unwavering protectiveness, often likened to that of a mother bear. When women embrace their unique calling as mothers, the world is profoundly enriched. They fearlessly place themselves in harm's way for the sake of the weak, the vulnerable, and anyone who requires their feminine strength. The book of Judges provides a striking example of this maternal devotion through the story of Deborah. She emerges not as a judge, soldier, ruler, or mere leader, but as a mother to Israel.

She consciously chooses to define herself through the lens of motherhood, fueled by an intense love that resides within a mother's heart. This extraordinary love enables her to discern the desperate needs surrounding her and wholeheartedly embrace them, refusing to remain silent. Imagine a world without such mothers—the Mother Teresas of our time—who wholeheartedly perceive a need and consistently respond with love. The impact they have, repeatedly extending compassion, is immeasurable.

​As we celebrate Mother's Day, we extend our heartfelt recognition to mothers everywhere—those who nurture life in both physical and spiritual realms. The global church earnestly calls upon women to rise as mothers, to perceive the desperate needs of a wounded world and embrace that pain as their own. In every nation, we yearn for mothers to emerge in their maternal roles, breathing life into desolate places, fostering the growth of both physical and spiritual well-being in their own children and the children of a world lost and fractured. To all mothers, we honor you, we rely on you, and we hold deep affection for you. Happy Mother's Day from Global Catalytic Ministries and the church worldwide.