A Garden of Thoughts on Mother’s Day

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By Aimee Riegert on April 5, 2023 ,

 

A Garden of Thoughts on Mother's Day

Motherhood is one place where beauty meets strength; the Mariana Islands are another. On these tiny, lush islands violent storms pass as suddenly as they strike, like freight trains across the prairie. From coral reefs to coconut palms, everything there is built to last, even the flowers. Hearty tropical blooms like hibiscus, birds of paradise and plumeria regularly weather raging typhoons without a scratch. Afterwards, as the sky clears, their petals glow in vivid contrast to the black, receding clouds, and one is struck and strangely comforted by the irony of such strength in something so delicate. The same can be said of motherhood: it is at once beautifully intricate and iconically strong.
Of Moms and Mums: God’s Fingerprints Are on Both 
“God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” - Martin Luther
Bouquets abound on Mother’s Day, and each bloom speaks volumes, not only about our love for Mom, but also about God’s own goodness, power and creativity. Romans 1:20 states, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made [emphasis added]...” The beauty of the created world clearly reflects the beauty of the Creator. In other words, flowers are life-giving, beautiful, fascinating and comforting because God Himself is life-giving, beautiful, fascinating and comforting. The same Genius and Goodness are on display in motherhood as well.
God “planted” humanity in a garden for a reason. Biblical authors liberally apply nature allegory to humanity, and the poetic and biological “language” of gardens and flowers translates perfectly to women and motherhood. It echoes God’s creativity, His passion for new life and His particular tenderness for those who bear and nurture it. For example:
“Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.” (Psalm 128:3)
“I will be like dew to the people of Israel. They will blossom like flowers. They will be firmly rooted like cedars from Lebanon. They will be like growing branches. They will be beautiful like olive trees. They will be fragrant like cedars from Lebanon.” (Hosea 14:5-6)
Here are some other features that mothers and flowers share:
  • Although their seasons are short, there is always a fresh one on the way. As children mature, mothers often grieve the passing of the current phase. However, the new one has particular joys of its own. “For behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come.” (Song of Solomon 2:11)
  • Sometimes transplanting, however disruptive, is the only way to grow. The only thing that is certain in motherhood is change. Mothers can keep joy in their journey by trusting that God is in control and that He loves their children even more than they do.  “I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain...it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar.” (Ezekiel 17:22-23)
  • They need strong roots to thrive. Mothers who are grounded in faith in Jesus are blessed with the help of the Holy Spirit.  “Your mother was like a vine in your vineyard, planted by the waters; it was fruitful and full of branches because of abundant waters.” (Ezekiel 19:10)
The attentive believer learns much from the parallels between God’s eternal Nature and His created one. The key is slowing down enough to see them, and in that, mothers have a distinct advantage.
The Christlike Office of Just Being Mom
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it...” (James 5:7)
It can be argued that divine revelation is like a little child in that it refuses to be hurried. Consider God’s words to David, “Be still and know that I am God,” (Psalm 46:10), or Elijah’s experience of God’s presence in “a still, small voice” in 1 Kings 19:11-13. In Luke 18:16 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” These passages suggest that God is pleased to express His infinite goodness through the little, hidden things, like flowers and babies, requiring people to simplify and slow down, or risk missing them...and that is great news for moms.
Flowers and fruit are never in a hurry, and the very nature of motherhood slows women down. Paradoxically, despite the frenetic nature of caring for active children, moms can also feel that they travel “at the speed of baby,” and that sense of a slower pace, although at times challenging, is fertile ground for spiritual growth.
Often a mother’s pre-kid tempo is significantly slowed for a season, however happily, by the limitations of her children. It might feel to some women that their branches have been clipped. However, the selfless service of motherhood mirrors Christ’s humble “condescension,” and God actually blesses them in those small, still, obscure spaces, as they find themselves simply doing what Jesus did: constantly serving, nurturing, counseling, comforting, discipling, teaching, ‘round-the-clock feeding and endless “foot washing.”
Jesus’ humility is described beautifully in Philippians 2:3-7, and the same words describe moms who “have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:"
  • Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
  • In humility value others above ourselves.
  • Look not to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
  • Take the very nature of a servant.
  • Mothers and flowers alike are in the hands of Christ, the Master Gardener, and the yield is worth the patience and pruning
The Immensity of the Ordinary: The Bible’s Intimate Portrait of Motherhood
“For You formed my inmost being...I am fearfully and wonderfully made...My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret... Your eyes saw my unformed body; all my days were written in Your book and ordained for me before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13-16)
Georgia O’Keefe was an important early 20th century American painter best known for her enormous florals, which focus on the intricate details deep at the center of a single bloom. A writer for the Whitney Museum of American Art explains, “By utilizing a small, ordinary flower to suggest the immensity of nature, O’Keeffe sought to undermine her viewers’ habitual ways of looking. As she remarked, ‘Paint it big and they will be surprised into taking time to look at it…’”
Likewise, the Bible paints a beautiful portrait of God’s design for motherhood and of His deep care for those whom He calls to it. The Holy Spirit does with Scripture what O’Keefe does with her paintbrush: He paints us big. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God...penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow [emphasis added].” The Spirit uses Scripture to “zoom in for a close up” on our hearts and minds, “painting big” our human nature, capturing our attention and surprising us into looking more closely at ourselves and, most importantly, at Him.
Looking at motherhood through the lens of scripture, these verses highlight the beautiful attitudes, activity and influence one can expect from a godly woman:
Mary’s joyful response to Gabriel’s announcement of Jesus’ coming birth:
“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.’” (Luke 1:46-48)
Isaiah’s comparison of God’s divine comfort to that of a mother’s love:
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.” (Isaiah 66:13)
Paul’s acknowledgement of the lasting influence of godly women:
“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother, Eunice, and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5)
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.” (Titus 2:3-5)
Solomon’s view on the fruit of a lifetime of godly motherhood and maternal influence:
“Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...Her children arise and call her blessed...Honor her for all that her hands have done.” (Proverbs 31:11, 12, 28, 31)
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.” (Proverbs 31:25)
“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6)
“I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house—she who has taught me.” (Song of Solomon 8:2)
“She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” (Proverbs 31:26-27)
The Psalmist placing motherhood at the apex of a list of God’s blessings:
“He raises the poor from the dust...he seats them with princes. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.” (Psalm 113:9)
Destitute Hagar’s praise to God for seeing her and blessing her son in the desert:
“The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert...She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: ‘You are the God who sees me.’” (Genesis 16:7,13)
Moses’ urgent exhortation to teach children about what God has done:
“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
The wisdom of the king and queen mother to their royal son:
“Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)
As you celebrate the moms in your life, shower them with flowers and tell them about their powerful meaning. Whether motherhood is biological, adoptive, or relational (many cherish the powerful influence of beloved mother-figures in their lives), God honors and sustains those who “mother” the young, the needy and the vulnerable. A mom’s faithful, daily service might seem ordinary, but in reality, like O’Keefe’s flowers, it is immensely powerful, beautiful and valuable.
May the truth of God’s love for Mom bless her and empower her to weather the storms of life with the strength of, well...a flower.

Aimee Riegert

CSLI Fellow

Aimee Riegert, CSLI Fellow, earned bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and foreign language studies from Southern Methodist University. In addition to supporting various national security efforts in Northern Virginia, she has worked as an itinerant high school math teacher and drama coach, and has served in women’s ministries, praise teams, on the adult support team for Young Life and as a “mentor mom” for MOPS International ministries, as well as English instructor in several ESL programs in Japan. She is a graduate of the C.S. Lewis Institute Year One Fellows Program.

 

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