MOTHERS’ HANDS THAT ROCK

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?” – Isaiah 49:15

The powerful Influence of women in lives is portrayed by the MOTHERS’ HANDS THAT ROCK: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?” (Pro.23:13-14). Mothers have a profound power in molding human souls for time and eternity. As it is often said, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” Another author re-phrased this to read: “The hands that rock the cradle, HEALS or HURTS the world.” People sometimes say, “It takes a village to raise a child”! That seemingly nice notion is perhaps the cause of the pervading crime and decadence in our world, because this “village” is really a deceitful synonym for the streets. The Truth is: It takes a MOTHER to RAISE the CHILD! A child needs the mother’s personal attention because in these formative years, the mother represents God!

God has infused into mothers the natural instinct to protect their offspring even at the peril of their own lives. He has imbued this sacrificial nature not just into human mothers, but also the lower animals. Even God illustrates this: “I will meet them like a bear deprived of her cubs; I will tear open their rib cage” (Hos.13:8). Mothers’ Rocking Hands have changed history, defined destinies, and made eternal difference!

The story is told of a mother and her young babe travelling cross-country one cold winter in South Wales, who were caught in a blinding blizzard. The following day, upon learning she never reached her destination, a group of men went in search of her. They soon spotted a large mound of snow in the road she was known to have travelled. They quickly swept away the snow and found the frozen body of the barely dressed woman. In her arms was a bundle of clothing, which they unwrapped to discover her baby – alive! In the struggle of the snowstorm, she had taken off her clothing and wrapped it around the baby to keep him alive. She knew that she would perish, but that the baby might survive. The baby was David Lloyd George, who lived on to become Britain’s celebrated Prime Minister during World War 1.

We live in a time when pure motherhood is being scoffed and belittled, especially a mother who stays at home with her children. It’s as if today’s society sees motherhood as an antiquated tradition. With the feminist Movement of the 20^th Century, the diminishing roles of wife and mother have hastened the decay of marriage, family, and society’s moral institutions. In an effort to break what they perceived as the constraints of traditional marriage and home, feminist ideologists have attacked and distorted God’s design for man and woman (Gen.2:18, 21-25). The Biblical role of a husband to his wife is that of provider, protector, lover, and friend. The wife’s role is that of “help meet” to her husband and “nurturing” mother to their children (Pro.31:27-28). Sadly, the essence of womanhood is being distorted and nearly destroyed.

Motherhood is a great office the Creator has passed to certain of His creatures. It’s a vital and challenging responsibility, deserving of dignity and honour. Jochabed (meaning “Yahweh’s Glory”) even as a slave, demonstrated immense faith in God regarding her maternal duties, which greatly enriched the upbringing of her treasured son, Moses. She had just a few years to shape Moses’ character knowing that a pagan Egyptian princess would soon take him over. Evidently, the lessons that Moses learned at his mother’s knee during those brief years were so indelibly impressed on his soul that he never forgot who he was, his people, and that God had a supreme plan for his life (Pro.22:6).

We’ve heard the story of the extraordinary life of Suzanna Wesley, who raised John and Charles Wesley and their siblings for eternal impact! We thank God for godly wives and nurturing mothers and their HANDS that ROCK the CRADLES and by extension, uphold the World. The responsibility of being a wise woman, helpful wife, and nurturing mother has never been greater or more needed. Oh Lord, bless our Mothers!