Daily devotional, April 1, 2024 Mom goals

"Those who think that a woman detained at home by her little family is doing nothing, think the reverse of what is true. Scarcely can the godly mother quit her home for a place of worship; but dream not that she is lost to the work of the church; far from it, she is doing the best possible service for her Lord. Mothers, the godly training of your offspring is your first and most pressing duty." 
Charles Spurgeon

Advertisements upon advertisements, pages upon pages, digital content upon digital content tell us moms who we need to be. How we should be that all-around mom, with great kids, a life of her own, and of course, the body, skin and face that defies ageing, gravity, and the stripes of childbirth.

While not all moms succumb to the pressure of the worldly view of the ideal mom, we as followers of Jesus should not be swayed into thinking that having all those qualities make us the best and successful mother that we can be.

"Do not be conformed to this world,but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 
Romans 12:2

The Bible shows us what we should aim for as moms. In the First Epistle of St. Peter, he described how we, women-followers of Jesus ought to conduct ourselves:

"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious." 
1 Peter 3:3-4

The same was echoed in St. Paul the Apostle’s first letter-instruction to Timothy:

"Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works." 
1 Timothy 2:9-10

The goal indeed is to be a godly woman. While “beast mom” is a more common term we hear in today’s world, “godly moms” are what we are being called to be. It is a unique challenge in our modern world indeed given the gargantuan task of raising equally godly children, managing a household, being a good wife, and for a some helping earn a living. But we all know that in Christ, we can do it:

"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 
2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Let us take the example of the virtuous wife as described in Proverbs chapter 31. Scholars say that this is inspired by King Solomon’s mother Bathsheba as she gave him advice on how to find a good woman to marry. Its heading is “The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him”

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.Her children rise up and call her blessed;her husband also, and he praises her"
Proverbs 31:25-28

And as we grow in age, we continue to be called to a godly and virtuous life. We are also expected to pass on these traits to younger women who are also followers of Christ:

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5

Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Proverbs 31:10-31 and 1 Peter 3:1-6 to dig deeper on today’s topic.

Reflection Question: What kind of mom do you want to be? Are your aspirations more of this world, or more Christ-like?

Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for giving me the privilege of becoming a mother. May I become the godly mother you have created me to be, so that I too could raise godly children. Amen.