“Dying with boots on” is an American idiomatic expression that means dying while actively working on one’s profession. It traces its roots from the 19th Century American West where cowboys die in gun fights. Later on it meant soldiers dying in battle.
If there is any occupation that one can never retire from, it is parenthood. If not all, most of us moms “die with our boots strapped on.” No one ever retired from motherhood except those who have been forced to because of the untimely demise of their children.
The good news for us mothers in this lifelong vocation is that we do not carry out our parenting duties and responsibilities on our own strength alone. We are encouraged to tap into God’s power, and look into Jesus for inspiration to do good. We are invited to cast into Him the anxieties we may have in raising and providing for our kids and the heartaches we may experience while parenting them.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
The Bible also offers every guidance and wisdom we will ever need in raising our children. Every stage is covered: pregnancy woes, raising young kids, bringing up older children and then guiding adult kids. A passage from Deuteronomy Chapter 6 is one of the hallmark guides for parents. It highlights the importance of raising God-fearing children:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7
As moms, we also learn from the experiences shared in the bible of every kind of mother: the mother who had trouble conceiving like Sarah, Rachel, and Hannah; the mother who had a past like Bathsheba, the single mother like Hagar, and lots of widowed mothers. The bible may have been written thousands of years ago, but the parenting stories and situations remain applicable to our generation.
“And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation.” Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink. And God was with the boy, and he grew up. He lived in the wilderness and became an expert with the bow.” Genesis 21:17-20
The parenting lessons also do not end in mother-child specific stories, but even in parent-child rearing and relationships described in the bible. These include the negative impact of Rebekah’s favoritism, how David fathered his children, and how some bad kings still managed to produce God-fearing kids and vice-versa. We also learn from the various parables that Jesus taught. More importantly, we learn from how our Heavenly Father graciously, lovingly, mercifully deals with sinners like us.
“My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12
If we will look into the strength of heart, and the stories of parents in the bible, we will be inspired to move forward with our own struggles and mother our children with joy in our heart. We will know that with faith we can get past our difficulties because we are not doing it alone — we are lovingly supported by our Heavenly Father who is also our Sovereign King. And as long as we have Jesus in our hearts, and teach our children to prioritize, love, and trust in Him, we will be on the right path.
“Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalm 112:1-2
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to
ponder on Psalm 112, Genesis 21:8-21, and Proverbs 31:25-31 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Are you joyful in your day-to-day parenting? What gives you the ability to be cheerful and happy amid the challenges of parenting?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for setting the best example in rearing children. Thank you for your words that guide us in our day to day lives, as well the example of your Son Jesus Christ of loving perfectly in action. Give us the grace and confidence to become the mother you have destined me to be. Amen.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
