By Larry Stover
Stover lives in Valley Grande and is pastor at Praise Park Ministries Church of the Nazarene

Mother’s Day is always an exciting time around our house. I really appreciate all that the ladies of my home give to the family every day.

There is a lot of confusion these days about the concept and role of a mother. It even flows over into the realm of the expectations of a spiritual mom. I have discovered that there are three basic views of ladies these days. They are the “world view, legalistic view, and the Biblical view.” Each philosophy has an thought-provoking insight into the place of women in our society.

First of all, there is the “world view” that represents much of the way ladies are expected to function in society today. These ladies are working hard to fulfill their potential. They dress for success and keep up with the latest trends.

Often they believe that men are inferior and even abusive.  People tell them that they should not let a man get the best of them while fighting their way to the top thus proving who really is the best.

The world view teaches that this is a “dog-eat-dog” world. It even goes so far as to promote the idea that, “you should not put yourself out for others as they won’t appreciate it anyway.”

This view can really affect the daily operations of the home. It teaches that men can’t be trusted and should be watched like a hawk. Hire a detective if you suspect anything. Broaden your relationships and date others even if you are married. This idea would cause any home to implode!

The “legalistic view” can best be described as the “male chauvinist pig perspective.” Women should be in the home “barefoot and pregnant.” Men are superior and should be obeyed at all times. Ladies should trust their husband to always do the right thing as “he has been blessed by God with all the wisdom needed in the home.” This would destroy any self-esteem a lady would ever have!

The Bible offers a Christian view of motherhood that puts things in their right perspective. God has blessed women with many virtues that make her noble in the sight of God.

Proverbs chapter 31 gives us some insight to how God views the role of motherhood.

A Godly woman is clothed in strength and dignity espousing a strong self-esteem. With the help of the Holy Spirit, she speaks with wisdom eliminating idle gossip from her very nature. Not only her husband and children but everyone around her have confidence in her and delight in her spiritual integrity.

Not only does she work hard at home and on her job, she finds time to reach out to the less fortunate and minister to them in the name of the Lord.

Proverbs 31 also reminds us that a Godly woman is a woman of great faith. Her relationship with Jesus Christ is continually improving with a lot of emphasis being put on cultivating that relation with the Lord persistently. She is also a praying mother.

The Godly influence of a mother reaches down for decades to come. All of us who have been blessed by a Christian mother know how much she influences her family for generations.

I cherish the influence of a Godly mother and a Godly wife. For those of you who have memories of a Christian mother, you are blessed. For those who did not have that kind of relationship with your mother, you can change the pattern for future generations. You cannot change the past or where you might be from, but you are in charge of your future. I challenge you to put the virtues of Proverbs 31 to work in your own life and people around you will know that your life and influence are “Simply Beautiful.”