With Mother’s Day quickly approaching I was especially drawn to the verse this week that specifically called out moms. Unfortunately, the reference is not an especially positive one. But hey, it is about sons and mothers and being a mother of sons, this is near and dear to my heart.
Proverbs 15:20
How much could there possibly be to say about one verse? Let’s find out together.
I’ve always found this verbiage interesting. Why, because every word from God’s mouth to my ears is important and quite frankly there are precious few references that especially speak something to the difference between a mother and a father. Here are a few!
Proverbs 10:1; 15:20; 17:25; and 29:15
Pause.
Of course, I could not go on without sharing photos. Here is one of me still doing what moms do for their babies, no matter how old. This is my baby’s wedding day in 2019.
The header photo is one from the days when the boys were still in college around 2010.
The boys have given us many proud moments. For me, the proudest of those have been those that showed good character. The most painful moment was when I saw them walk away from God.
observations
Why is it so important to moms that sons (and daughters) are wise?
For thousands of years who has been primarily responsible for the little ones? I think it is lovely to see young dads in recent years so much more involved with even the birthing process. Many of them are so much more present than in generations past. They are taking time off from work for paternity leave. They are taking turns with nighttime feedings. Maybe because schedules are more flexible than they used to be. Maybe because so many moms are also working outside of the home. Maybe because kids are generally older when they are getting married and having children and those extra years of maturity have helped them appreciate the shared responsibility of parenting right from the beginning. All that to say things may be changing, in a good way but occurred to me as I read through these verses that in those days and for the next 200-300 generations the role of dads has been very different than the role of moms.
When I was growing up, the pride of my dad was to provide for his family. He worked very hard to accomplish it and did a phenomenal job. I wonder how many of you can relate? I know there are many dads that were more “involved” in their kid’s lives. Taking them fishing, hunting, playing catch, and passing on whatever skills they found to be valuable. That’s great.
Let’s be honest though. All of those activities don’t replace the 8760 hours in that child’s first year of life that they were held, fed, cleaned, comforted, and otherwise generally nurtured primarily by mom. How about the next year of the tens of thousands of times moms say “no” to their children to teach them how to survive in this world? No complaints here! I think I’d be hard-pressed to find a mom that would trade roles. Even though the mom’s life comes with sacrifice, it also comes with the rewards of hearing those first words and seeing the first steps, and getting all of those sweet baby kisses and hugs. Solving all of the elementary school mysteries and resolving crises. Making the snacks, and costumes, and finishing the school projects.
That’s why children’s folly creates heavy hearts in Proverbs 10:1.
That’s why moms take the reckless and thoughtless decision-making of their child wounds their heart in Proverbs 15:20
It is why their decision to walk away from the God of their youth is a bitter pill to swallow in Proverbs 17:25 and Proverbs 29:15.
from my heart
As a parent, you may have been wounded by the choices a child has made. Or maybe this is yet to come in your life.
* PRAISE GOD. Psalm 22:3 reminds us that when are praising God we are connected to Him. When we are connected to Him, He can hear our prayers, heal our wounds, empower and embolden our walk, and words of wisdom and truth to be shared.
* Grow. 1 Corinthians 13:11 reminds us that we are all in a process of growth and there comes a time when we can put away the old patterns of thoughts and actions that we may have been stuck in for a while.
* Forgive. Matthew 6:15 reminds us that GOD forgave everything on our list of sins. We in turn must be forgiving people! That means letting go of your past mistakes (see the previous) which means letting go of the wounds of your children.
* Love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 describes to us what love is and if we take some time to think critically we also see what love is not.
* Know who you are and whose you are. Psalm 100 reminds us that we are to worship and serve the Lord. The circumstances you are facing do not change who you are as a follower of Christ and they do not change the God who has bought you with His love.
* Pray. Luke 18:1-8 reminds us that we should pray and keep on praying. No one knows the day or hour that Jesus will return, so while you have breath pray for repentance, healing, salvation, restoration, whatever it is that those people in your world need to pray, and keep praying.