Mother's Day

It's always hard to figure out how to post for certain holidays. Mother's Day is this week and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what to write about. I don't want to do the same post each year so I try to find a unique spin. This year I picked three mothers in the Bible to talk about.

The first is Naomi- Found in the book of Ruth.
We know more about Naomi's relationship with her daughter-in-law, Ruth, then we do with her own sons. What we do know about her relationship with her boys is that she loved them. When they passed away she deeply grieved for them and for her husband.
You also see her love for both her daughter-in-laws Orpah and Ruth. Naomi told these two young women to go back to their homes so they would be taken care of. She was willing to go back to Israel alone rather then have her girls suffer. In the end Orpah did turn back but Ruth stayed with her.
In Israel Naomi likely hurt Ruth in ways when she didn't acknowledge her to her friends or introduce her but their relationship survived the slights. Naomi made sure Ruth was taken care of. She told her where to glean and found ways to help her.
At the end of the book the other women acknowledge what a blessing Ruth is to Naomi. The love between them is so clear and also a reminder to us all that it's not always the children or mothers given to you biologically but the ones who are bound to you with love that matters.

Second is Hannah- Found in 1 Samuel 1-2:11
The mother of Samuel who wanted a child more then just about anything. She prayed for a child, prayed so fervently that the priest thought she was drunk because she was mouthing the words of her silent prayer. God answered those prayers and gave her the child she had so desired.
Then Hannah made the hardest decision any mother ever makes, she gave her child up. She had promised the Lord to dedicate her child to Him and she did. She entrusted her child to the Lord. Samuel lived in the temple from the time he was weaned.
Hannah never stopped loving Samuel, she was dedicated to him as all mothers are dedicated to their children. Even though she couldn't be with him she loved him, and I'd be willing to bet she prayed for him. Just because some moms can't be with their kids doesn't mean they forget about them.

Third is a lesser known mother, Eunice- Acts 1:6 and 2 Timothy 1:5
We only have a couple of references to Eunice, the mother of Timothy but I wanted to include her for a very special reason. She was dedicated to her child, as were Naomi and Hannah. Paul, Timothy's mentor, commends Eunice and Timothy's grandmother, Lois, for raising Timothy up in the faith. He says that Timothy was raised up in the faith from before he was born.
Timothy went on to be a pastor, one who is still an amazing example for all young people. "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but  set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12.
He didn't get there on his own, his mother and his grandmother raised him up that way and he followed their example. I know it doesn't always work out that way and sometimes children disappoint their parents but the role a mother, and a grandmother, play is highlighted for it's importance in Timothy's life.

So there it is, 3 different mothers from 3 different circumstances who had 3 very different children but all have important lessons to teach us. Happy Mother's Day to you and yours.