**Sigh**

I have deleted my opening thoughts four times now.

A mother’s love. You would think I would know what to say and how to say it, regarding said title. Many things come to mind.

Maybe it’s best to get straight to the point. Sometimes we only have enough time to read the point, and to write it.

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Last year I watched a video of two daughters giving a eulogy of their mother. Something they said struck me right in my spirit…

“Our mom use to say, ‘If I have caused you to cling to me, then I have done a really poor job as your mother.’ Our mom wanted more than that for us, she wanted us to cling to Christ.”

Now this may seem elementary, ladies. But it resonated with me. Of course they think for themselves, of course their salvation is their own. But for the first half of their childhood, we really are the center of their world. We are the one who remembers all ‘the stuff’ they need and all the stuff they need to remember to pick up. And so there is a natural clinging that happens, healthy and nurturing.

And then they grow and you grow too. You have expectations of their behavior because of how they’ve been raised, you want the best for them so you are wise to encourage only the good things, you are bound by what is right and so you give them truth. This is when the clinging slowly fades.

Last week I was reading in Matthew and found *the verse* that brings this whole thought to completion.

“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Matthew 10:37

Sometimes, ladies, we do this. Sometimes we love our love more than we trust God’s way of doing things. Sometimes there’s a pedestal that we don’t even notice. Sometimes we confuse love with always placing them first, and our commitment to Christ second. May I challenge us to wholeheartedly love our children in the way God calls us to. And that is: to love Him even more. To bind ourselves to His ways and believe His goodness. When the moments arrive when our kids may love us, their comfort and their blessings, and even love their life, so much that it all amounts to more than their love for the Savior, may God give us the gracious words and good wisdom to point it out and point them back.

God is such a better option than us. (I know, it’s Mother’s Day and I should be nice) But. truly, give the everlasting words, give the sacrifice of praise in their presence, give them your love as you follow after Christ, give them patience as they learn of eternity. Clear a path that they can follow on their own. Love hopes all things, so do not fear.

The following verse in Matthew takes it even further… ‘to take up his cross’. And then the next verse… ‘to lose his life’.

Dear mama, happy Mother’s Day. God has been so good to you. Whether straight from your own womb, or out of the shambles of another’s life, you have children that need a mother that will not only care for them, live and die to protect them, but to love and follow Jesus before them. To point to Christ is the best thing we can do. To love Him more.

God bless your mothering, your hands and your heart. God bless the food you prepare and the schoolwork you toil over, bless the billion drives you make to allow them a full life, bless you for being seated as the crown of your husband and not the leader. God bless you for telling them no, and for believing His good Word and walking in it. I pray you are filled with the knowledge of His will, that your hands multiply at the work before you, and that you do not grow weary while doing good – for in due season you will reap if you do not lose heart. May God strengthen and comfort you as you pray for that 100th sheep who is lost and as you trust God is always good. And when you are letting go, over and over, may your grip on Christ be so sweet. May all things be done for His glory, and when loving Him feels like a betrayal to self, may God be ever near, encouraging you in His lovingkindness. He is love, so He is your source.