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“And He [Jesus] said to all, ‘If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me’” (Luke 9:23). 

Perhaps nobody in our society’s normal, daily ebb and flow sacrifices more and more often than mothers. Motherhood, by Divine design, is sacrificial. 

A mother sacrifices her own body, at least in some ways, to grow a new person in her womb. In a culture that bows down to the idol of physical attractiveness, nothing could be more counter-cultural than pregnancy. So, to all the moms who have carried or are currently carrying children in their wombs, I say “Thank you!” Keep up the good work, because “children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward” (Ps 127:3). 

But pregnancy, and labor and delivery, are only the beginning of sacrificial motherhood. If you can pardon the pun, carrying and birthing the baby are only the beginning of birth pangs for moms. 

There are the early years of sleepless nights, endless feedings, burpings, coddling, rocking, lullaby singing and bathing. And the diapers. O, the diapers. 

Then come the years of learning and exploring and endless “why” questions. Crawling and then walking inevitably means tireless monitoring by moms. Like scavenging raccoons, turn your back for a second and a drink is spilled, a glass is broken, or a head gets knocked. O, how many pot-knots moms have kissed and made feel better. How many skinned knees have been bandaged. How many questions have been answered, even if with a “I don’t know, sweetie, that’s just how God made it.”

The elementary years often find moms laboring in the books with the kids. Reading and helping with homework. For so many homeschool moms, you’re also the primary school teacher, seeking to master or re-master the basic subjects so critical to your child’s maturity into young adulthood. Then, there’s the attending soccer games. Enjoying playgrounds in the park. And laundry, O the laundry. If grass stains could talk, they would surely say “Thanks, Mom, for always scrubbing me clean.”

Moms, keep taking up your cross daily. Do not buy the lies of our time. That you must work outside the home. That you must involve your children in all kinds of sports and extra-curricular activities to the point of insanity. That you must have an online, social media presence and look like you have it all together all the time. That you have to be everything to everybody. Never, ever underestimate the power of daily, loving sacrificial motherhood that has you singing God’s praises with your family in your home. Reading the Bible to and with your family in your home. Praying over and for and with your kids in your home. Showing hospitality to others in your home, and expecting your children to participate. Loving your husband and encouraging him as he leads your home and provides for your home. And building your lives around a healthy, biblical church. Investing in your home and church is godly womanhood (Acts 9:36-43; Eph 3:7-13; Titus 2:3-5). Making disciples begins at home, and therefore, at least in a very significant way, with moms. Jesus is worth the sacrifice and the counter-cultural way you live and work and do marriage and parenting and worship. And these elementary years are so very foundational. So, take up your crosses and follow Jesus, dear moms!   

The pre-teen, hormonal twists and turns are the source of many mom nightmares. O the patience required. O the empathy and sympathy required. O the corrections and rebukes, and yes, even times of joy and laughter as your children develop more adult-like thought patterns and personalities. But, if you are blessed, you are starting to get a few helpers in your home by now!       

The teen years find moms discussing goals and dreams and future plans with their now-young adults. Talking late into the night about relationships, friendships, dating, learning to work hard and manage money well. Soothing wounded emotions, and patting backs upon accomplishments. Watching movies together and playing board games or video games together, enjoying common interests together. For those who told you parenting gets easier as the children age, you moms of teens know better! And it is during the teens years you perhaps have to most sacrifice, as you learn to view your children as adults, and give them freedom and responsibilities. Not to mention allowing them to suffer the consequences of poor decisions, even though it pains you greatly. But don’t give up now! Keep saturating your children in the gospel. Teach them to apply the gospel to every single aspect of life, and do so tirelessly. Counsel the Word of God. And listen to your teen children. Enjoy the relationship as it grows into a friendship, with deep love and respect for one another. Even if it seems your teens are not listening to you, do not stop teaching and encouraging them. They’re hearing more than you think. 

Your sacrifice of Christ-like love, by God’s grace, is going to pay off, as those teens become God-fearing, Jesus-loving young adults who bless the church and the world, and perhaps even begin homes and families of their own. And they’ll know what to do. Because they saw you do it, and experienced the pure joy of being raised up by cross-centered mothers. And maybe, just maybe, by God’s sanctifying grace and the power and presence of Holy Spirit God, they’ll die to self even more than you did. And they’ll bring even more glory to Jesus than you did. And isn’t that every cross-centered mother’s highest desire? 

“Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that children yet to be born may praise the Lord” (Psalm 102:18).    

Seeing the cycle of sacrificial motherhood come full circle is a grace of God that brings unspeakable joy. Ask any godly Grandmother. She will tell you it was worth it all. 

Never forget, dear Moms, that the way to glory is suffering (Rom 8:16-17). So suffer on. Sacrifice on. The reward for self-denying motherhood in Christ Jesus will be beyond your wildest imagination (1 Cor 2:9). 

“Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her” (Prov 31:28). 

Indeed they do. Indeed we do. Happy Mother’s Day. 

by Keith McWhorter