Moms

Good day to each of you reading this column on moms or mothers and their effect on their children.

Before I begin, here are a few jokes to liven your day:

Where do rabbits go for breakfast? IHOP.

What did one flea say to the other flea when they came out of the movies? “Should we walk home or take a dog?!”

What do you call a chicken at the North Pole? Lost!

What kind of ties do pigs wear? Pig sties!

What’s the difference between a fish and a piano? You can’t tuna fish!

Corny, but good to brighten the day. So sad that we don’t have comics who could make you laugh without all the vulgararity. That’s why I am a fan of the old television shows where humor was just good clean fun and we laughed at the corny jokes.

Moms is my topic for this month for it was April when my mom was born, so I dedicate this column to her and to all the moms in the world. Just think, where would you be without your mom?

Personally, it was a very rough end of 2021, for I lost my father in December, then in January of 2022, I lost my mother, within thirty days of Dad. In the quietness of the day and outside the back porch, I remember the days of growing up and thinking of all the good things in my life.

I discovered in later years the trials and tribulations that my wife faced raising children in this ever-changing world. Mothers are so much more than just the “mothers”, especially those who are stay at home mothers. I marvel at the things that were accomplished when I saw my mother or my wife doing their daily activities. It is so interesting that God created man and woman so differently from the physical, mental and emotional aspects.

As a man, I have no idea what it is like to nurture a child for nine months and give a physical birth to a human being. What physical, emotional and mental trials must a female go thru before the moment of birth to the bundle of joy that she carried for nine months and then to see the child for the first time.

When I read Ed Vallowe’s book on the keys to Scripture Numerics, I wanted to know the relevance of the number (9) Nine, for he says the number NINE speaks of FINALITY OR DIVINE COMPLETENESS FROM THE LORD. NINE is the number for the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT. NINE comes after EIGHT, which represents the NEW BIRTH. Take a moment and let that take root.

Hmm, is it coincidence that child-bearing is nine months long? It is so interesting that the Bible likens us to trees bearing good or evil fruit as we grow both physically and mentally. Mothers nurture their children to bear good fruit and become a blessing to both them and those around them.

This fruit that mothers’ provide from the beginning include love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance for these are the fruits of the Spirit as shown in Galatians 5:22-23.

As the godly mother nurtures her children with the fruits of the spirit, the children begin to grow both physically, emotionally and spiritually into a tree bearing good fruit. Matthew 12:33 says “Make the tree good, and his fruit good.”

It is so interesting reading the Proverbs for Solomon had the greatest respect for both his mother and father. He speaks about the teachings of his mother fourteen (14) times in this book. Turn to Proverbs 1:8, 6:20, 10:1, 15:20, 23:22, 23:25, 29:15, 30:11, 30:17, for each of these verses provide you with the importance of having both a mother and father for the physical and spiritual growth of the child.

Satan has done a job on the family for He knows our vulnerabilities which include breaking the family apart. Like a sliver in the finger. He will not stop until the sliver is removed and his job is done.

In this present world, the role of the mother has been diminished where her duties were to nurture the child and children and create a safe haven for their growth. Instead, so many mothers must also go to work to make ends meet, pay for child care, grocery shop, do the normal activities to get them off and back from school, go to school/sports activities, cook, clean and so many other activities before she falls into bed and then does it again the following day. Such is the day of the working woman and not just the everyday house wife for these women are superwomen who do it each day for they know no other way.

One must ask, was this the way that it was intended? Were things better when the married stayed at home to tend to the children, to do the chores of the home and to be 100% involved in the lives of the children from the time they were born until the time they reached college age?

What is the difference between then and now? So many questions to ponder and so many new circumstances from then to the present age. And where is God in all this and has the focus been taken off from him and into all the outside influences that effect the woman’s daily life? How can the mom bear good fruit with so many outside influences and interruptions or is this Satan’s plan all the time?

In closing, I am reminded of the verse that says in Proverbs 22:6, that says Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will never turn from it.

Please turn to Ephesians 6:1-3, Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” — which is the first commandment with a promise— “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

If your mother is still alive, give her the one gift that lasts the lifetime which is time for it can never be replaced for once it has passed, it is gone forever. Regrets, yes for once they are gone, you won’t be able to speak with them while you are alive.

Provide the fruits of the spirit to your children and know that as you have trained your children in the way they should go that when they get old, they will never turn from it. How do I know this? For the Bible tells me so and I can thank both of my parents, my mother and father, for the fruits of the spirit and for training this child in the way that he should go. May God Bless you and May we Bless God by honoring our mothers and our fathers.