A Call to Mother

Stasi Eldridge in her book Captivating says that all women are called to mother. “To mother is to encourage, nurture, and mother them toward their true selves. Women partner with Christ in the vital mission of bringing forth life. It is about seeing who a person really is and calling them out to be that person.”

Today I am reminded that there are many women who do not have their mothers any longer, had unhealthy relationships or never knew their mothers. Some have not grown up feeling the nurturing love of a mother. They have not heard words of encouragement that can come from a Mother’s soft voice. Or the love felt in her embrace or the touch of her hand. There are women who long for the friendship that mother and daughters can often share. They have not heard the sweet whisper of a mother say “I love you”.

I truly believe that God can and does nurture us with the heart of both mother and father. I know because I have experienced it. Jesus in Matthew 23:37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” Can you hear his tender heart’s cry for his children?

My dear sister’s I know there are many of you out there who long for the tender nurturing from a mother’s heart. Even now you long for it as an adult. It’s normal. Don’t let the enemy tell you anything different.
Acknowledge your longing and take it to Jesus. It is only there that the longings will be filled. It’s in the truth of God’s word that you will find the tender mercies of a savior that desires to both mother and father to you.

And sometimes...

God gives us the precious gift of women who will come along side us to nurture us and touch us in ways that leave us stronger and confident. They help us grow up spiritually and emotionally.

I have had the privilege to have such women in my life. Each sister in Christ has touched me in different ways. They have nurtured my heart in a way that has brought healing and has encouraged me to go deeper in my walk with God. God has used them in my life to nurture me toward a truer self. To help grow me toward the woman God knows I can be. Through these godly women God birthed life into me as they invited me into deeper levels of healing, deeper walks with God, and deeper intimacy with Jesus.

Now it’s time for me to mother, to nurture and come along side other women and invite them to a deeper walk with God. It’s now time for me to be a Spiritual Mother to the daughters that God brings to my door.

(This post was originally posted last year. I have edited it and reposted it today.)