Most of us have, or had, a mother who was ideal in many ways and is/was greatly loved, appreciated and respected, and who truly cared about us and was diligent about it.
And, on top of that, if she was a Godly Christian mother, and led you to the Lord, you are most fortunate. Count it as a superior blessing!
However, if there is a history of bitterness, abuse, or grudges between you and your mother, it may seem impossible to honor someone who has hurt you so deeply. But God’s plan for families requires you to accept His order of society, and you are to at least have an inward attitude of esteem for her God-given position in your life.
Honor for a hurtful parent doesn’t come from our own abilities. You need to honor your parents not because you think they deserve it, but because God asked you to, and even promised a reward for doing so: “That your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
And by doing so, you honor God by keeping His commandments.
“Honor your father and mother.” Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16; Matthew 15:4; Matthew 19:19; Mark 7:10; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Ephesians 6:2
From gotquestions.org:
Children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3-5). In Titus 2:4, the Greek word philoteknos appears in reference to mothers loving their children. This word represents a special kind of “mother love.” The idea that flows out of this word is that of caring for our children, nurturing them, affectionately embracing them, meeting their needs, and tenderly befriending each one as a unique gift from the hand of God.
Several things are commanded of Christian mothers in God’s Word:
- Availability – morning, noon, and night (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
- Involvement – interacting, discussing, thinking, and processing life together (Ephesians 6:4)
- Teaching – the Scriptures and a biblical worldview (Psalm 78:5-6; Deuteronomy 4:10; Ephesians 6:4)
- Training – helping a child to develop skills and discover his/her strengths (Proverbs 22:6) and spiritual gifts (Romans 12:3-8 and 1 Corinthians 12)
- Discipline – teaching the fear of the Lord, drawing the line consistently, lovingly, firmly (Ephesians 6:4; Hebrews 12:5-11; Proverbs 13:24; 19:18; 22:15; 23:13-14; 29:15-17)
- Nurture – providing an environment of constant verbal support, freedom to fail, acceptance, affection, unconditional love (Titus 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:7; Ephesians 4:29-32; 5:1-2; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 3:8-9)
- Modeling with Integrity – living what you say, being a model from which a child can learn by “catching” the essence of godly living (Deuteronomy 4:9, 15, 23; Proverbs 10:9; 11:3; Psalm 37:18, 37).
- The Bible never states that every woman should be a mother. However, it does say that those whom the Lord blesses to be mothers should take the responsibility seriously.
Mothers have a unique and crucial role in the lives of their children. Motherhood is not a chore or unpleasant task. Just as a mother bears a child during pregnancy, and just as a mother feeds and cares for a child during infancy, so mothers also play an ongoing role in the lives of their children, whether they are adolescents, teenagers, young adults, or even adults with children of their own. While the role of motherhood must change and develop, the love, care, nurture, and encouragement a mother gives should never cease.
“As one whom his mother comforts, So I will comfort you…” Isaiah 66:13
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