God’s Gift of Motherhood

Here are some good quotes for our moms this day:

The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Genesis 3:20

 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7

Woman’s Greatest Honor: the Mother of All the Living— Through the Holy Spirit Adam called his wife by the excellent name of Eve, that is, mother.  He does not say woman, but mother and adds “of all the living.”  Here you have the true distinction of womanhood, to wit, to be the source of all living human beings.  The words are brief, yet they are an oration such as neither Demosthenes nor Cicero ever composed.  But this oration is by the Holy Spirit, who is most eloquent; and yet it is worthy of our first parent.  The Holy Spirit is to deliver the address at this point.  If this Orator so defines and praises woman, we may in fairness cover up whatever frailties she has.  (Martin Luther)

The Natural Caretaker of Infants— It has often been a great delight and wonder to me to see how the whole body of a woman is adapted and formed for the care of infants.  How becomingly even little girls carry infants in their arms!  And how appropriate are the gestures with which mothers dandle the little ones when they hush a crying infant or lay it in the cradle!  Let a man do these things, and you will say he acts like a dancing camel, so awkward are all his motions if he has only to touch an infant with his finger.  I say nothing of all the other duties which only mothers can do for children. (Martin Luther)

The Tenderness of a Woman’s Heart— The female sex is merciful by nature because it is born to show mercy and to cherish… just as man is born to protect.  This is why no living creature has more mercy than a woman, particularly in respect to her infant.  (Martin Luther)

An Old Spanish Proverb— “An ounce of mother is worth a pound of clergy”

A little boy who was told by his Sunday school teacher that God made people good replied, “Yes, I know; but mothers help a lot.”

Walther to his daughter on news that she was expecting— I must also remind you not to forget in your cares and burdens what a great gift of God it is to be blessed with offspring in that way.  Think of it, is it not something great that God deems you worthy to bestow life and existence on an immortal human called to eternal life and dearly redeemed through Christ?  If that little babe is successfully born into this world, this is a greater achievement than one thinks.  For the little child is then there in order to know God, in all eternity and to praise Him and receive salvation.  If God would give you a million dollars, this would be a lesser gift than a little child.  Gold and silver will not only pass out of existence on the day of judgment, as will also the whole world, but in dying you must leave everything behind here; but not so with your little child; and when through God’s grace that little one learns to know the Savior and to believe in Him, you will rejoice with it in all eternity.

Therefore do not be sad about the present inconvenience which the blessing of children brings with it, but thank God for it and spare your life and your strength, because the second life is now dependent upon yours—a precious, costly treasure, more splendid than precious stones or pearls.  This you certainly are experiencing daily in your little ones, namely in your Emilie and Theodor.  Isn’t it true, you would not be willing to trade them for a whole kingdom?  See from this how God has enriched you.  (C.F.W. Walther)

Do More than Love Parents; Honor Them— to this estate of fatherhood and motherhood God has given the distinction above all lower estates that He commands us not only to love our parents but also to honor them.  For concerning brothers, sisters, and our neighbors in general He commands nothing higher than that we love them.  In this way He sets father and mother apart, distinguishes them above all other persons on earth, and places them at His side.  For to honor a person is a far higher matter than to love him; because honor does not comprise love alone but also deference, humility, and awe, as if we were in the presence of majesty there hidden.  Nor does honor require that we merely address parents kindly and reverently, but that, both in our hearts and in our actions, we show and make it clear that we esteem them highly and, next to God, consider them supreme.  For one whom we are sincerely to honor we must truly consider exalted and important.  Therefore we must train young people to look upon their parents as God’s representatives and to remember that even though they are lowly, poor, frail, and peculiar, they are still the father and mother whom God gave them.  They are not to be robbed of their honor because of their conduct and failings.  Therefore we are not to look at the kind of persons they are but at God’s will, which has made and ordained it so.  In other respects we are, of course, all alike in the eyes of God.  (Martin Luther)

We thank God for the gift of womanhood, and in particular, the gift of motherhood.  May we always hold it in the highest esteem!

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.