Mom

Mother’s Day has a way of stirring up memories — the smell of something baking in the kitchen, the sound of a soft hymn humming through the house, the steady hands that comforted and corrected with love. As I reflect on the women who have shaped my life — my own mother, grandmothers, and the faithful women in the church who stood in the gap — I find myself drawn again to Proverbs 31. Not as a checklist for women to anxiously measure up to, but as a celebration of what godly womanhood looks like when lived out day after day.

"Who can find a wife of noble character? She is far more precious than jewels" (Proverbs 31:10, CSB). I think about my mother when I read that. Not because she was flawless, but because her faithfulness was steady and rare. The world might not applaud the late nights, the sacrifices, the whispered prayers over sleeping children — but God sees. And in His eyes, that kind of quiet, enduring love is priceless.

Verse 11 says, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will not lack anything good." I’ve seen that kind of trust in my own family. A mother’s consistency builds a foundation where her family can feel safe and secure, even when life gets hard. It’s in the way she shows up, day after day, with strength that sometimes surprises even her.

And it’s not just about hard work — though there's plenty of that. "She extends her hands to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy" (v. 20). That verse makes me think of the times my mom reached beyond our home to help others, even when things were tight. Whether it was cooking an extra meal for a family in need or sharing what little we had, she taught me that faith is lived out in open hands, not clenched fists.

Then there’s this beautiful line: "Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the time to come" (v. 25). Isn’t that what we’ve seen in the women who’ve walked with God? A strength that’s deeper than muscles, a dignity that shines brighter than any fancy outfit. And that laugh — that joyful confidence in the face of the unknown — comes not from knowing the future, but from knowing the One who holds it.

The end of the passage calls us to action: "Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her" (v. 28). That’s our cue this Mother’s Day. Not just to think fondly, but to rise up — to speak words of blessing, to say out loud the gratitude that maybe we’ve kept tucked away for too long. To tell the women in our lives, "You have surpassed them all."

So, this year, let’s go beyond the cards and flowers (though those are nice too). Let’s take a moment to really reflect on the legacy of love, faith, and strength that’s been passed down to us. Let’s pray for the mothers who are still in the thick of it — wiping tears, carrying burdens, sowing seeds of faith that will one day bear fruit. And let’s thank God for the women whose faithful, unseen labor has shaped us into who we are today.

Because they are, truly, more precious than jewels.