Today’s Devotion
Topic: Not Flawless, Yet Motherly
Text: 1Kings 3:25 & 26
25 The king then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.” 26 The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!” Amen
All year round, we honour our mothers in diverse ways. On Mothers’ Day, however, we celebrate them for their contributions towards what we are in life today, among other things.
The truth remains that not all mothers (biological or otherwise) have been entirely ‘perfect’ as we would expect them to. But THEY ALL DESERVE TO BE CELEBRATED, because that pleases God!
At a point in time, King Solomon had to settle a dispute between two women over the ‘ownership’ of a child who was alive. The child’s mother had been careless enough to have her baby stolen by another woman while she slept. When the king gave the order to divide the living child in two and have his lifeless body given to each of the women claiming maternity of the child, the actual mother of the baby pleaded that his life be spared. She would even have the other woman have him if that would spare the baby’s life. Now that’s the heart of a TRUE MOTHER!
Admittedly, she had made some wrong moves in life; by living as a harlot, getting pregnant outside wedlock, and not being vigilant enough to ensure that no one stole her child. She was guilty of all these, yet she couldn’t stand the sight of her child being hurt. Her heart was filled with compassion for her baby.
This is so because every true mother understands that children are a precious gift from the Lord and a heritage to families. Once there is life, a baby can grow up to be everything God wills as his/her destiny. Mothers therefore wholeheartedly welcome the challenging role of nurturing their children through life till they become responsible adults for God and country. They would give everything and anything to have their children live better lives than they had, and that is remarkable.
So then, whether you have had the ‘Proverbs 31 type of mother’ whose lamp does not go out at night (vrs 18), or the ‘1 Kings 3 type of mother’ who sleeps all night (vrs 20); you must be grateful for her life and celebrate her. Stop paying attention to her flaws; she is human, she is your mother, and she is God’s gift to you!
Begin to pray for your mum and all women in general. They cannot make it on their own without the help of God. Ask that the Holy Spirit strengthens them with the wisdom and skill to train their wards the way that they aught to go. Also pray long life with good health for all mothers.
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