Being a Mother

When my boys were young they often would ask for something that was not in their best interest. For example if they were hungry and wanted a snack they would ask for a cookie, candy or some other sweet food. But I would often tell them they could have cheese, fruit or veggies for a snack. If they truly wanted to eat they could, but the choices were better for them. Sometimes they would decide they really didn’t want a snack other times they would make a choice.

The point is, they wanted a snack and as their mother I would provide them the opportunity to have a snack by making healthy choices.

Being a spiritual mother is much like being a mother to our children. Often we think we know what we need, but in reality we are just wanting what looks good, “taste” good or feels good at the time.

I am thankful for a spiritual mother in my life that loves me enough that if I was pursuing that which was not good for me she would pull me aside and let me know. She would tell me what I needed. Granted in the end I could choose not to do what she says, just as my children could have chosen not to have a snack. But at least she has given me advice or choices that were of wisdom and in my best interest.

Being a spiritual mother, or mentor one has the responsibility given to her by God to do what is best for her “daughters”. Just as a mother is responsible before God to make wise choices for her own children. I believe both will be held accountable for the way they have trained those God places within their world of influence.

So if this is true, and I believe it is (see the responsibilities of the older women to the younger in Titus 2:3-5) then women who are leaders of women need to be diligent in being sure that they are giving the women within their ministry biblically healthy choices. Choices that will encourage them deeper into understanding the heart of God. Choices that will help them know God, know how to study His word for themselves and choices that will leave them longing for more of God. Those leading women need to be sure that they are growing their women toward a steady diet of solid food not just the milk of the word.(Heb 5:11)

Hear my heart on this please, I am concerned when women have been in Bible studies for 20+ years and they still aren’t able to “feed” themselves. I am concerned when spiritual leaders/mothers offer reading groups, craft nights, fun nights, and social events with little in-depth Bible Studies. It is somewhat like offering my boys a choice in a cookie or carrot stick for a snack. They would always choose the cookie.

What if we as a generation of spiritual mothers began to offer women spiritually healthy choices? Sure our ministries might be smaller, but we would be intentional in what we were trying to grow our women toward.

I don’t think have to provide “fun” activities for our women the world offers plenty of that it. What we need to be doing is teaching our women how to study and grow on their own. We need to be helping them understand who they are in Christ, how to battle their enemy and how to be prepared to stand firm during the last days.

We need to offer healthy choices from the word of God.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. Eph 4:11-15