The Counseling Corner
By Rev. Judith T. Lester, B.Min. M.Th
In 1 Thessalonians 2:7, Paul used mothers to describe God’s love for Israel. “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother, as one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.” Paul was describing the gentle, comforting nature of mothers. Paul made this reference to mothers because the believers in Thessalonica had accused Paul of ministering essentially because of self-interest. Paul refuted their statement and said, they should remember the gentle, caring, comforting nature of his ministry which resembled that of a tender-hearted, caring mother and the love she has for her children.
Then when God talked about His Israel, He too used a motherhood metaphor in Isaiah 66:13. He told Israel that He would comfort them like a mother comforts her children. What God is saying is that no one can comfort like a mother and that same comfort is what one can expect from God for His people.
Beloved, women play such an important role in God’s creation. So important that Proverbs 31, the magnificent chapter on the virtuous woman, does not end with instructions on how to live a good, saintly lifestyle, neither does it close with praising manhood, but it closes with a testimony and tribute to women. It extends praise and exalts womanhood. Let us listen to those words again:
Many daughters have done nobly, but you excel them all. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord should be praised.
I would like to close this month’s series of articles celebrating motherhood with a poem written by Helen Steiner Rice:
“A Mother’s Love”
A Mother’s love is something that no one can explain
It is made of deep devotion and of sacrifice and pain.
It is endless and unselfish and enduring come what may.
For nothing can destroy it or take that love away…
It is patient and forgiving when all others are forsaking.
And it never fails or falters even though the heart is breaking.
It believes beyond believing when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty of the rarest, brightest gems.
It is far beyond defining, it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret like the mysteries of creation.
A many splendored miracle man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence of God’s tender guiding hand.
CELEBRATE MOTHERHOOD
The writer does not assume responsibility in any way for readers’ efforts to apply or utilize information or recommendations made in these articles, as they may not be necessarily appropriate for every situation to which they may refer. If you would like to contact Rev. Lester, write to her c/o P.O. Box 121, Brookfield, WI. 53008.