Why Motherhood Matters

When you think about your mother, what comes to mind? For many of us the thought conjures up warm and tender memories of precious childhood moments – bedtime stories, fresh-baked cookies, and a friendly smile that always encouraged us to do our best. For others, the memories may not be so beautiful and are perhaps, painful at best, or lie in between those two extremes.

In reality, motherhood is a very difficult and personal thing to define. It means something radically different to each of us, based on our experiences and our worldview. Motherhood in modern America has become so cliché we’ve often forgotten its true meaning and importance.

We’ve reduced it down to planning and executing a Pinterest-perfect birthday party once a year – not the day-to-day importance of raising one’s child to love God and love others. It’s no wonder many of us mothers feel worn out, frustrated, and defeated. We’re simply trying to live up to the wrong standard.

Motherhood Is Important

In today’s politically correct world, it’s becoming almost offensive to suggest that a child should even have a mother in his or her life. The nuclear family has been terribly besieged on a broader cultural level. There is a new orthodoxy evolving that believes children don’t actually need a mother … any combination of male and/or female parent-like figures, in any quantity will do just fine.

As this type of thinking continues to expand, we can see why the definition of motherhood has become so muddled. We’ve allowed society to reduce its value down to a simple biologic process of approximately nine-months and not much more. Christians, fearful of being too judgmental or argumentative, have been too quiet for far too long on the matter and now we find ourselves in dire straits. We’re actually at the point of having to write essays on why motherhood even matters! (Think about that for a minute.)

I don’t care what’s PC to say or not to say. This is the truth: mothers are vital! They are needed for every child and belong in every family. They are key to their child’s moral universe. They perform small, yet profound services each day without fanfare or expectation of a “thank you.” A mother is a priceless treasure.

The Secret To Being A “Good” Mom…

While many mothers are excellent cooks, crafty, and excel at being domestic, none of these traits are essential to successful motherhood. Good parenting – and good motherhood – means being willing to meet your child’s needs. Do they really need you to be the team mom on their soccer team? No. Do they need a mother that understands God’s Word and teaches it to them day-by-day in small but meaningful ways? Yes.

Unfortunately, too many of us spend our time majoring in the minors of motherhood. Trust me, Little Johnny will be just fine if you don’t send the perfect snack for his class party. He’s just happy you showed up. It’s okay if you don’t have a beautiful laundry room (and really, I don’t understand this new trend – it’s just a room where we wash clothes!) … What the kids really need are clean clothes.

Over time, mothers adapt and change, as do their children and families. We become so in-tune with our family’s needs that we do whatever it takes when the situation arises … often without even noticing it. It is during these mothering moments natural bonding is forged. (Not forced.)

Yes, the superfluous duties of motherhood tend to come easier for some women than others. But don’t that fool you. All mothers are critically important to their children. Despite your own doubts and insecurities, the most important thing you can give your child is the gift of yourself. Simply by just “being mom.” The days when you are there to lend encouragement, kiss their boo-boos, and rub their back when they are sick. It’s like the saying goes, “How do you spell love? T-I-M-E.”

True motherhood doesn’t require any fancy skill or knowledge. It just requires showing up and being there.