Blessing of Mothers
May I wish all the mothers, including natural and “spiritual” mothers, a blessed Mother’s Day, and ongoing joy in their sacred God-given role.
The books that make up the Bible were written in times when patriarchal societies were the norm. For this reason, there are fewer references to the importance of motherhood compared to that of fatherhood. Although male headship is clearly taught in the Bible, the importance of motherhood is by no means diminished.
Apart from the obvious fact that mothers are given the vital role of childbearing, and the universal fact that children in their early stage of life are much closer to their mothers than their fathers, God has endowed women with characteristics that enable them to exercise parenthood in essential aspects different from those of fathers.
While the Bible depicts God as our Heavenly Father, and there is no mention of a Heavenly Mother, our all-sufficient God sometimes relates to us in ways consistent with motherhood too. When Jesus lamented for Jerusalem, He said “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” – Matthew 23:37. His passion and concern for God’s people was such that the best analogy was one of a mother’s care. We have all experienced the blessings of our mothers’ love and care expressed in tangible and practical ways.
The Bible also describes motherly love in ways that are found in God Himself:
• God cares for His people like an eagle hovering over her young (Deuteronomy 32:11a)
• God is concerned for His people like a midwife care for the child she has delivered (Psalm 22:9-10)
• God will never forget His children like a mother will not forget their nursing child (Isaiah 49:15)
• God comforts His people like a nursing mother (Isaiah 66:13)
• God experiences the anger of a mother bear who has been robbed of her cubs (Hosea 13:8)
While the fathers’ spiritual headship in their families is very important by the Lord’s design, we have seen in many cases, probably the majority, it is the mother who bears the responsibility of nurturing and exercising day-to-day spiritual leadership towards their young children. What Paul said about Timothy is true for many: “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” – 2Tim 1:5.
Even when mothers are exercising a supportive role to their husbands in the spiritual life of the family, that role of gentle encouragement, practical demonstration, and reminder is so important to make their homes Christ-centered ones. The mothers’ ability of maintaining homes as havens where love is secure and warm is vital for us to live out other aspects of our lives to the full.
To all the mothers, grandmothers and mothers-to-be, spiritual mothers, and mothers who have passed away - we express our heartfelt gratitude, respect and love.
To the children and fathers: The best way of celebrating the mothers in our lives, today and always is to acknowledge them and to relate to them in such a way as to make their motherhood joyful and rewarding.
母親的祝福
我祝所有的母親們, 包括肉身及屬靈的媽媽們、母親節蒙福，並祝願她們在上帝賦予的神聖角色中不斷有喜樂。
聖經的書卷都是在父權制社會的時代寫成的，因此在聖經中較少談到母親的重要性。雖然聖經中明確教導男性為首，但絕不看輕母親的重要。
母親被賦予生育這至關重要的功能，並且顯而易見的是兒童在生命的早期階段一般與母親比與父親更親近。神更賦予婦女一些特別的恩賜，使她們能在兒女生命中有獨特的影響力，與父親的影響力不同。
雖然聖經將神形容為我們的天父，也沒有提到有天上的母親，但我們全能的神也有母性的一面與我們相交，可見母性的重要。當耶穌為耶路撒冷哀悼時，祂說：「耶路撒冷 阿、耶路撒冷 阿、你常殺害先知、又用石頭打死那奉差遣到你這裡來的人．我多次願意聚集你的兒女、好像母雞把小雞聚集在翅膀底下、只是你們不願意。」——馬太福音23：37。祂對神子民的情感和關懷是如此之熱切，以至於最貼切的比喻是母親對兒女的眷愛顧佑。 我們都切身經驗過母親常以行動實際地表達出來的愛和關懷，所帶給我們的祝福。
聖經還以其他方式描述了母愛，這些表達可以在神自己身上看見：
• 神關心 祂的子民，就像一隻鷹在她雛鷹之上兩翅搧展盤旋（申命記32：11a）
• 神照顧兒女，就像接生婦小心翼翼照顧初生的孩子一樣（詩篇22：9-10）
• 神永遠不會忘記祂的兒女，就像母親不能忘記她哺乳的嬰孩、不憐恤她所生的孩子（以賽亞書49：15）
• 母親怎樣安慰兒女、神就照樣安慰祂的子民。（以賽亞書66：13）
• 神要保護祂的兒女如了一隻被搶走幼崽的憤怒母熊（何西阿書13：8）
按主的設計，父親在家庭中的屬靈領導地位是非常重要，然而我們可看到，在許多，甚至可能是大多數的情況下，由於文化和社會結構的原因，父親一般多注重事業，以至母親們都承擔了培育孩子並給予他們日常屬靈指導的責任。 保羅對提摩太所說的話都可能是許多人的經驗：「想到你心裡無偽之信，這信是先在你外祖母羅以和你母親友尼基心裡的，我深信也在你的心裡。」(提後1:5)
即使母親在家庭的屬靈生活中扮演著協助丈夫的角色，然而她們對家人所給予溫柔的鼓勵、實際的榜樣和經常的提醒，對於使她們的家庭成為以基督為中心是非常重要的。母親們所承擔的日常家務，雖看似只是不斷重覆的細務，卻是使家庭成為充滿愛，安穩和溫暖的避風港不可缺少的辛勞工作，使我們能充分享受生命的各方面。
我們向所有母親、祖母、準媽媽, 屬靈母親及已故的母親，表達我們衷心的感激、尊重和敬愛。作兒女和父親的：今天我們慶祝我們生命中的母親們最好的方式就是確認她們的貢獻，並支持她們，使她們作母親的使命有喜樂和滿足。
