Scripture: Proverbs 31 v 10 - 31 : "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price isfar above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."
The Lord knows the hearts of the wives and mothers that belong in His Kingdom and no-one describes them better than He does in the words above.
The mother of Jesus was such a woman, who also had to endure persecution for being found pregnant without a husband. They took her to be stoned to death as Joseph, her fiance, declared the child was not his.
Just before this execution took place, God sent the Archangel Gabriel to tell Joseph that the baby she was carrying was His Son and that Mary had not lost her virtue, and he must marry her and save her from death.
She and Joseph were married and she went to stay with her cousin Elizabeth, who was pregnant with John the Baptist. These two godly women rejoiced in sharing their faith together.
All mothers bear responsibility to bring up their children to know the Lord and protect them from the evils of this world. We don't always succeed as they become independent and sometimes rebel against authority. All we can do is pray that the Jesus they knew as children would draw them back into His Kingdom.
This is what a mother's love is all about and today we honour all mothers with the richness of His grace and the abundance of His blessings.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift up mothers to You today so that they may feel Your very special love. For the mothers already with You in Heaven, please tell them their children love and miss them and long to be with them. We pray for the needs of mothers to be met, that they are not neglected or abandoned, that they remain an honoured member of their family. In Jesus' name. Amen.
