In the passage on “the worthy woman,” it is noted, “Her children rise up and bless her” (Proverbs 31:28a). The King James Version expresses the thought this way: “Her children arise up and call her blessed.”

Mothers are special. In a Peanuts comic strip, Charlie Brown said, “Everyone needs someone to love them, trust them, care for them, support them, laugh and cry with them.” Lucy responded, “That’s a lot of people.” Then Snoopy added, “Or one wonderful mother.” Most of us could rise up and call our mothers blessed.

In Luke 1 we are encouraged to call someone else’s mother blessed. In verse 42 Elizabeth said to a mother-to-be: “Blessed are you among women.” In verse 48 the woman addressed replied, “For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.” The passage speaks of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

All mothers are blessed, but Mary was especially blessed. Of all the Jewish women living at that time, God chose her to be the mother of His Son. Consider just a few of the many reasons what made Mary so special:

• She was a godly woman (Luke 1:30).

• She believed in God—and His power (Luke 1:31-33).

• She had a humble spirit (Luke 1:38, 48).

• She was submissive to the will of God (Luke 1:38).

• She knew the Scriptures (Luke 1:46-49).

• She was brave and courageous (Luke 2:25-35).

• She was willing to accept responsibility (Luke 2:41-51).

• She expressed confidence in her son (John 2:3-5).

• She was faithful to her task to the end (John 19:25-27).

(Truth for Today Commentary, The Life of Christ, pp. 49-58)

To all our mothers, thank you for your love, devotion, example, encouragement and unending selflessness. May all our children rise up and call you blessed!

~~ Monticello church of Christ, Monticello, AR

Sayings About Mothers

 “When you are a mother, you are never really alone in your thoughts. A mother always has to think twice, once for herself and once for her child.”—Sophia Loren

 “Mother—that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries.” —T. DeWitt Talmage

 “A mother understands what a child does not say.” —Jewish Proverb

 “If evolution really worked, how come mothers only have two hands?” —Milton Berle

 “One good mother is worth a hundred schoolmasters.” —George Herbert

 “I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.” —Abraham Lincoln “