Mum’s Hard Work – Honouring Her Sacrifices

I once heard a story about a mum who jumped into a swimming pool fully clothed, thinking her son was drowning. The story was funny at the time, because our group of friends knew that this young woman was a posh A-list celebrity, and the thought of her jumping in with her expensive clothes and salon hair made us all laugh.

But later, I reflected on the maternal instinct and how far a mother would go if they sensed their children were in danger. For this high society woman who jumped into the pool, she put aside her finesse and dignity in the presence of clubhouse strangers, friends and acquaintances. And surely what was all that compared to her child’s life?

Funny stories aside, mothers make immense sacrifices day in day out that go unnoticed and often unthanked. No matter what our relationships are (or were) with our mother – whether it’s loving and close, or difficult and strained – it would be hard-pressed for any of us to say that she has done nothing for us. Being a mother is hard work, and surely the labour to bring a child into the world was only the beginning!

My own mum has four children; she bathed us, fed us, clothed us, and managed the household, devoting her life to raising us and ensuring we had a good education and a safe and comfortable home to grow up in. She is definitely the role model of Jesus the servant, modelling a sacrificial life and loving us through service (Matthew 23:11).

>>WATCH: “Most of what we do as mums will never be praised or noticed by anyone.”

>>FOLLOW: 7-Day Reading Plan for Mother’s Day

>>READ: Prayers by mothers (Readers’ testimonies)

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, may we recount stories of our mothers’ devotion and honour the sacrifices she has made for us, even the undignified and face-losing ones. It’s a day to reflect on the love we’ve received since the day we were born and to show our appreciation for the person who has never stopped loving us.

It’s also a day to remember that a mother’s love is a reflection of God’s perfect love for each one of us. God’s infinite love is boundless (Romans 8:38-39), and He loves us with an everlasting love that is even greater than what a parent has for his or her child. We thank God for mothers and may we strive to love more like them.

Wishing all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day!

About the Author​​

Wan Phing Lim is a contributor to Our Daily Bread Ministries Malaysia. Born and raised in Penang, she studied Politics before turning to a career in writing. She loves coffee, books and films.

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