“The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.”
— 1 Timothy 5:2

Just who is your mother?

Timothy had his own mother and grandmother, but as a pastor, he was taught to set an example for the entire church: to treat older women as mothers. They were to be respected, honored, cherished, and treated with care and affection.

So, who is your mother?
Who do you honor on Mother’s Day?

First, we honor the woman who gave us birth. Giving birth alone may not define motherhood in its fullest sense, but it is a profound and holy contribution to life. For nine months, she carried us every hour of every day. Our nourishment, protection, and earliest shelter came through her.

She gave a significant portion of her life so that we could have all of ours.

Then we honor the women who raised us or helped raise us: mothers, foster mothers, grandmothers, older sisters, aunts, babysitters, teachers, Sunday School teachers, neighbors, and even the mothers of friends who opened their homes and hearts to us.

Many of us became who we are because of several women, not just one.

Today, we honor them all.

We honor the mothers we had.

We also honor the mothers we wished we had — the idealized mothers of our imagination, the perfect mothers no human being can fully become because every person is imperfect and still growing.

That perfect love and nurturing spirit ultimately find their source in God, whose fatherly love also contains the tenderness, compassion, comfort, and protective care reflected in motherhood.

We honor the mothers we hope to be and the parents we aspire to become. We honor the vision of sacrificial love, patient guidance, and faithful presence.

We honor the mothers of the future — the young women being shaped even now into caregivers, mentors, encouragers, and nurturers of life.

And we honor all the women of the church and community:
those who have been mothers,
those who longed to be mothers,
those who never became mothers,
and those who still may.

Especially, we honor the older women whose wisdom, faith, endurance, and quiet love have mothered far more people than they may ever know.

And the younger women, we honor as sisters, friends, leaders, and future mentors in the making.

Happy Mother’s Day.