Motherhood

"For the hand that rocks the cradle
Is the hand that rules the world."- William Ross Wallace




I have been called a lot of things in my life.. but my favorite is Mommy.



NOUN
moth·er[ múthər ]
moth·ers plural

1. female parent: a woman who has a child, or a female animal that has produced young
2. woman acting as parent: a woman who acts as the parent of a child to whom she has not given birth
3. originator: a woman regarded as the creator, instigator, or founder of something
4. origin of something: the cause, source, or origin of something
"Necessity is the mother of invention."
5. protector: something that protects and nourishes like a mother
6. good or bad example of something: something very big, good, bad, or extreme, or particularly noteworthy in some other way ( slang ) ( sometimes considered offensive )
"a real mother of a headache"


TRANSITIVE VERB
moth·ered past and past participle
moth·er·ing present participle
moth·ers 3rd person present singular

1. take care somebody with tenderness: to look after somebody with great care and affection, sometimes to an excessive degree


2. give birth to baby: to give birth to and bring up a baby
3. bring something about: to give rise to something
[ Old English modor < Indo-European ]

NOUN
moth·er·hood
at your mother's knee in early childhood
every mother's son every man or boy (dated)

Thesaurus
NOUN
Synonyms: ma, mom, mommy, mama, mamma, mammy, momma, mum, mummy, mam, mater
Synonyms: mam, mama, mamma, mom, momma, mommy, mum, mummy, mammy
Synonyms: mama, mom, momma, mam, mommy, mamma, mummy, mum, mammy
Synonyms: mammy, mam, mom, mama, momma, mamma, mommy, mum
Synonyms: mum, mommy, mummy, mama, momma, ma, mammy, mamma, mammie, mom
Synonyms: mummy, mum, mammy, mama, mommy, mom

VERB
Synonyms: look after, care for, protect, nurse, tend, cherish, pamper, cosset, nurture, raise, rear, mind


VERB
Antonyms: neglect





"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." PROVERBS 22:6


Reflecting on motherhood and references to mothers in the bible-
Eve, who experienced the loss of one child (Abel) to her other son's hands (Cain). This was over jealousy?? It hurts me when one of my girls hurts her sister- or get jealous of the love and affection I show the other child. I can't imagine how Eve felt to lose her son this way.

Then there is Sarah- She was to be the Mother of Nations and the mother of a great heritage- but in fact was without child well into old age... who wanted so badly to be a mother. She was granted the gift of motherhood by God when she delivered Isaac. She doubted God at first even laughed at the notion of her ever being able to conceive... but he gave her the gift of child and it IS a gift that some people take for granted.

Then you have Rebekah, Isaac's wife... Isaac favored one son (Esau-the manlier), while Rebekah I assume favored the other to make up for Isaac's lack (Jacob). I have felt that torn and rift as well, trying to divide your love in two or three or make up for little things here and there... Love for your children is unwavering.. undeniable.



The pain Mary must have felt watching Jesus die on the cross for us all... what a mother!

There is also other mothers well worth noting- Hannah and Rachel who died in childbirth.. Moses' mother Jochebed who hid him and kept him alive by pretending NOT to be his mother... how HARD that must have been. Sacrifices we make for our children!

These mothers were examples for their children and examples for us. I try to learn from each one of their stories, struggles, and sacrifices.




So thank you to my Mother for being a wonderful mom... and to my girls for making me a Mother :)