There’s a story at the beginning of the book of Exodus that speaks powerfully of a mother’s love…
Moses was born into a time when the evil Pharoah had declared that every baby boy must be murdered. Imagine the angst and heartfelt turmoil that his mother, Jochebed, went through. What was she to do? Against her motherly desire to cling on to him, she placed him in a basket on the river, and took a chance that his life might be spared. We know how the story pans out.
Never underestimate a mother’s love.
I have a story to share too. After five days of labour, my grandmother delivered my uncle on 15th July 1944. It wasn’t until he turned two years old that they knew something was wrong.
Not much was known in those days about Cerebral Palsy, and the feeling was that most types of handicaps were considered something to be kept from the public eye. My grandmother would often be in tears because of the way people stared at my uncle. She was even advised to put him into an institution. “He’ll never amount to much,” she was warned. Even by the age of four he still couldn’t walk or talk. But the doctors underestimated the power of a mother’s love.
Twice a week, my grandmother would make the long journey to the hospital for my uncle’s therapy sessions. With no pushchair, she was forced to carry him, and make two long bus trips. Whilst at home, she would prop him against the wall and urge him to take steps toward her. Seven days a week, she would encourage and cheer him on to take one more step.
Grandmother even took on the laborious task of teaching him to learn his letters, pick out words, and read sentences. It took three years just to teach him to make the letter shapes. There were times when she was ready to admit defeat, as my uncle’s progress was so painfully slow. Over time, he eventually learned to walk and talk, largely as a result of my grandmother’s love and devotion.
Never underestimate a mother’s love.
I’m sure you know women too, who, through the mess and adversity of life, have offered their children the sacrificial and instinctive love that only a mother can. I’m thankful to God for these mothers.
So, as we celebrate our mothers this month, please take a moment to pray for them.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for mothers everywhere. Who, through thick and thin, ups and downs, and times of plenty and scarcity have done their best for their children. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.”
