5.12.19 Praise & Prayer Prompt: The Proverbs 31 Woman

PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I have a secret to tell you.
I don’t really get excited about Mother’s Day.
It’s not meant to be disrespectful against my incredible mother or anyone else, I just tend to be dismissive of anything I term a “Hallmark holiday.”
It’s not personal.
After all, I am a mother.
I don’t get excited about Valentine’s Day or Father’s Day either.
What can I say?
I’m a weird woman.
But despite my lack of enthusiasm for the official holiday, I can say without an ounce of hesitation, I have the best mother in the world.
She’s amazing.
A great listener.
Kind.
Funny.
Generous.
Even though I’m an only child, I share her with several friends who look to her as a second mother.
(She’s developed a reputation for being awesome.)
My mom got her greatness honestly as she learned from the best.
Her mother was unbelievable.
A woman who could have put Florence Nightingale’s compassion to shame.
And my grandmother had her own power-house of an example.
My Great-Mommy was one of the kindest, most loving, and gentle women I’ve ever known (and I’ve yet to have any cornbread as good as she used to make it).
Three generations of women who were pillars of motherhood.
The three strongest champions of my life have each been a model of the Proverbs 31 woman.
A Proverbs 31 woman is of noble character (v 10).
She is a hard worker and caretaker of her family (v 13-15).
She is strong (v 17).
She is shrewd (v 18).
She is generous (v 20).
She is ready to laugh (v 25).
She speaks with wisdom (v 26).
And in verse 28a, it says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.”
This is a word-painting of my mother.
My grandmother.
And my great-grandmother.
Two of them are enjoying their day in heaven and are the happiest they’ve ever been as they worship at the feet of Jesus.
And with my mother, we will worship with her at church later this morning.
Today is a hard day for many though.
While I’ve just raved about my incredible mom, I know so many who are missing theirs today.
Whether you are celebrating with your mom or remembering her, every day is an opportunity to thank God for our mothers.
And I say “every day,” in part, because it’s true and the other part because I’m rebelling against a calendar telling me that it’s time to honor moms.
Hug a mom today.
Yours or someone else’s.
And let them know you appreciate them.
Motherhood is hard.
Some, like my mom/Mamo/Great-Mommy, make it look easy.
But motherhood is full of the selfless love that we are called to show to everyone.
It models the kind of servant leadership Jesus modeled when He put others’ needs first.
Today, as you pray, thank God for your mother.
Thank Him for the lessons you have learned from her.
Whether you are a mom or not, ask the Holy Spirit to help you love others and to show appreciation to the moms and mother-figures in your life—today and every day.