From the Desk of the Pastor...

 

     As I sit back watch my toddler Silas interact with his mother, I am reminded again and again of the gentle, yet profound influence of a mother’s comforting love. Like the nurturing sun that charms the flowers to bloom, a godly mother's care and devotion bring forth the beauty and potential within her children.
     The Scriptures offer us an abundance of profound insights into the unique role which mothers fulfill. In Isaiah 66:13, God gives us a poignant image: “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you...” Here, the mother’s comfort is paralleled with God’s very own, underscoring the deep and abiding security that only a mother’s presence can provide. This consoling aspect of motherhood reflects a divine attribute of her God, emphasizing that a mother's role is not just VITAL ... it's SACRED!
     Mothers are often the first to introduce their children to the idea of God’s love by the extension of their own love via the nurturing of their souls as well as their bodies. Through her everyday actions — her patience in turmoil, her guidance in uncertainty, and her unconditional love even in correction — a mother models the very characteristics of Christ. These daily lessons, woven seamlessly into the fabric of daily life, lay a foundation upon which her children will build throughout their entire life.
     Proverbs 31 speaks of the excellent mother, praising her as one whose “...children rise up and bless her; her husband also, and he praises her...” This passage does not simply highlight a mother's strength or her capacity for hard work, but her lasting influence on those she loves. The virtues she embodies are literally passed down, becoming part of the legacy she leaves behind. Her children, having been nourished in their mother’s love and righteousness, grow to appreciate and continue her teachings long after they leave the nest.
     Consider for a moment the natural world, where every seed relies upon the soil around it to sprout and flourish. In a similar manner, a mother provides the fertile ground of love, security, and values. Her words and actions plant seeds of wisdom and compassion that will one day bloom in the lives of her children, who in turn will carry forward her love to the next generation.
     In the Motherly Love of Our Father,
     Pastor Darren  A. Jones (a certified mama’s boy)