As we celebrate Mother’s Day on Sunday, let’s recall how precious the role of motherhood is to God.

Psalm 139:13-16 below describes the intimate collaboration between the Lord God Himself and human mothers — all within the confines of their own bodies — in the astonishing formation of every precious child.

Mothers, not nations, truly are the “cradles of civilization.”

God’s Divine Laboratory

“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
  you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God — you’re breathtaking!
   Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration — what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.”

Referring to his omniscient God, the Psalmist uses extraordinarily personal language in the creation and procreation process, “you shaped me … you formed me … you know me … you watched me …” 

As I wrote in my book, My Origin, My Destiny, “Every human being, regardless of their place of birth, social status, race, religion or creed, has been personally formed by the hands of God in their mother’s womb. Their bones are inventoried, the number of hairs on their heads are numbered, their history is laid out, their future is already complete to (our eternal) God.”

It began in the Garden of Eden.

In Genesis 2:6-7, we are reminded of the similarly intimate description of God’s creation of Adam in the Garden of Eden: 

“God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive — a living soul!”

I wrote in my book: “Up to this point in the (creation) story, God creates, somewhat clinically, using only his spoken word from a distance, and everything obediently falls into place on command. But then God moves in closer, more intimately, and in so doing indicates that there will be a very special portion of his creation that he will form with his own hands and bring to life with His own breath. He confides that this creature will be vastly different from anything that has come before or since — he will be in God’s very own image and likeness. Never had the universe witnessed such a closeness between creator and creature, not even among the angels in heaven. The Trinitarian Godhead expressed in community as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit gives birth to a mini reflection of himself. It is impossible to overestimate the significance of this singular momentous event.”

Modeling God in His loving care for His children

In a previous commentary, I wrote, “I was once quietly sitting in a waiting room before being called for an appointment with my doctor. In walked a young mother with a beautiful baby boy in tow, who was just able to walk. I immediately became enchanted by the unspoken bond of love those two shared.

After a few minutes of cautiously getting the lay of the land, the little boy started exploring the furthest reaches of the room — touching things, picking things up, even tasting a few — all under the watchful eye of mom.

That young lad exhibited a palpable peace and confidence about him that was sustained by a charming practice he seemingly had permanently ingrained in his mind. With each step further away from the ‘ground zero’ of his mom’s location he glanced back and waited expectantly for her approving glance before proceeding.

No coercion, nothing forced. It was almost telepathic as their eyes met and without so much as a word spoken, permission was silently either granted or withheld with each move. He responded without debate, enveloped in the glow of a ‘love field’ around him, seemingly oblivious to the far-less-friendly world at large.

Three things about that little boy anchored his life. He knew who he was (his mother’s beloved son), he knew who he belonged to (his ferociously loving mother), he knew where to look for direction and guidance. No identity crises, no abandonment syndromes, no panicky looking around for help, no having to grow up too soon.”

Isn’t that a perfect picture of the part God desires to play in our lives, IF we’ll let Him?

How About You?

Considering the dignity, nobility and distinction that mothers play in God’s creative plan, please make sure to do something extraordinary for that special mother in your life — she’s likely too busy serving others to do anything for herself.