In OT Hebrew she is EM (אֵם)  and in NT Greek she is MYTYR (μήτηρ). The mere mention of MOM evokes all kinds of emotions and images. Why? Why are MOMS so impactful? What have they given to our world?

Life:
We see Eve in the garden joining her husband in a loving, supportive, and affectionate role. We sense her strength as she bears and rears her children. And we witness her heartbreak as her son, Cain, murders her youngest, Abel. Genesis 3:20 (ESV) — 20 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.

Patience:
We witness Sarah’s shame as she patiently goes through her best years, barren. But she turns her tears to prayer and God blesses Sarah with laughter in Isaac. Genesis 18:12 (ESV) — 12 So Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”

Devotion:
We find Hannah, in blatant tearful devotion, vowing to give the first fruit of her womb to God’s service. 1 Samuel 1:11 (ESV) — 11 And she vowed a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head.”

Faith:
We see Naomi sharing her faith with her daughter-in-law – Ruth. Ruth 1:16 (ESV) — 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.

Endurance:
We find betrothed Mary hearing that she would face the scorn of becoming pregnant out of wedlock. We see her making the long arduous journey to Bethlehem to give birth in the humblest of places. We witness her angst as she searches for her 12-year-old. And, even, when the entire world turned its back on her son, she was still there. John 19:25 (ESV) — 25 but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother…

This Mother’s Day we celebrate with our new mothers while mourning all our mothers who passed.

Proverbs 31:28 (ESV) — 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her…