Those faithful souls who shared wisdom laced with integrity and joy. The ones who brought comfort to our sorrows big and small. You took us by the hand and modeled what loving Jesus and serving God looked like.
You mothered us well.
You, the souls defined by music and melody who taught eager hearts and little lips to sing sweet Jesus songs that remain with us to this day.
And the stalwart teachers who patiently showed us how to tuck Bible verses deep into our hearts with wonderful flannel graph stories accompanied by pots of sticky glue adhering to bits and pieces of multi-colored crayoned construction paper.
Mamas and grandmamas. Aunties and Sunday School teachers. Pioneer Girl leaders and music instructors. Camp counselors and youth group leaders.
Those oh-so-wise professors and the heaven-sent spiritual directors and counselors, coaches and mentors who patiently sat with us and our endless questions and concerns, the challenges and doubts. You empathized fully 'cause you'd 'been there, done that.'
You modeled for us fledglings how to gracefully enter unknown territories, influence in board rooms and meetings, our heads grazing against stained glass ceilings in churches that didn't quite know what to do with us. You bore the bumps and bruises with us and taught us how to be filled with courage, mercy, and truth.
You mothered us well.
You tenderly showed us how to listen quietly to the Spirit's promptings and embrace His calling on our lives with a hopeful anticipation.
Your wise guidance led us to make ourselves fully available to the Spirit's leading and discernment and power for ministry.
Your lives helped us claim the truth that that tender hearts mingled with a godly courage could send us far, build us strong, shaping us into humble servants fully available for Kingdom work.
You are our Proverbs 31 women, filled with beautiful integrity, godliness, and strength. All of us who've been shaped and grown through your sacrificial mothering join hands and proclaim, with tears in our eyes and hearts overflowing, that with everything in us, we 'thank God upon every remembrance of you ...'
Linda
Do tell us a bit about the women who have been your spiritual mothers ...
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I've had so many, and they've blessed me in ways too many to count.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I remember all I've received, I'm motivated all over again to step up and be an encouragement to as many people as I can reach with my words and my work.
Yes, yes, to stepping up. Sometimes we are prone to wait around for a gold-plated invitation when all around us are people who simply need a listening ear, an encouraging word, a heartfelt prayer.
DeleteI'm with you, Michele ...
I love this! I’ve had so many spiritual mothers in my life and this is a great reminder to take some time and thank them!! I love Nancy Leigh DeMoss (now Wolgemuth)’s book on Titus 2 called Adorned! It helped me see my role as inviting mentorship from older, godly women but also being available and willing to be that presence in younger women too. No matter the age, we can do both because there will always be someone older to impart their wisdom and someone younger who could use a big sister
ReplyDeleteElena, I love what you're saying. I agree wholeheartedly that everyone should have a mentor, and everyone should be a mentor.
DeletePass it on, right?
:-}
I never had a spiritual mother in my life. I struggled thru the first 40 years of my life without anyone to guide me in my spiritual journey. Until..........I stumbled upon an amazing counselor who showed me the love of God. Even in my stubbornness my soul was internalizing everything I saw and heard until it finally burst through in love. I can now be a spiritual guide to my kids, friends and even strangers. My life was turned around and I have purpose. I can reach out to the unreachable now because I've been there and I know. Thank you, Linda...............
ReplyDeleteIt sure sounds like you're living out 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Valerie, with love and freedom and confidence -
Delete'Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.'
Your words bless me today ...
I have had a lot of women who have sat with me through my wrestlings and prayed and prayed. I hadn't seen them as my spiritual mothers before, but the title fits! Happy Mother's Day Linda!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, haven't we been blessed with those prayer warriors, Lynn. They can be hard to find, and what a gift when God sends one our way.
DeleteBliss.
Too many wonderful and caring women to even begin to count. Thank you to our spiritual Moms!
ReplyDeleteHappy Mother's Day, Linda!
And Happy Mother's Day to you, too, friend ... even if it isn't what we had hoped for or planned.
DeleteBless you!
I have had so many spiritual mothers over the years. Even now, in my 60s, I still find spiritual mothers, sometimes much younger than me! Happy Mother's Day to all of them and to you, Linda!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that you're finding spiritual mothers who are actually younger. The more I think about that, Laurie, the cooler it is!
DeleteI hope your Mother's Day is filled with pockets of joy ...
Beautiful tribute. Perhaps it is Mothers Day weekend but I have been thinking about my mom who passed many many years ago. How she took my to church, taught me Bible stories and how to pray. After she died when I walked into her house, I saw and still remember seeing her chair with an open Bible next to it. Thanks Linda!
ReplyDeleteWhat a inspirational legacy, Jean. How blessed you are to have that final memory. Beautiful.
DeletePraise God.
Most of the women I think of as spiritual mothers were just those who spoke a word in due season in the moment. Most of them probably didn't know how they influenced me. I learned mainly from observation. God always faithfully placed someone just ahead of me in the path for me to learn from. I hope I am pointing people to God in my walk and words as well. The main exception is Elisabeth Elliot, my "mentor from afar."
ReplyDeleteOh yes to this grace, Barbara -->'God always faithfully placed someone just ahead of me in the path for me to learn from.'
DeleteDon't you just love how He does that at just the needed time. May we have clearer eyes to see Him at work and give Him thanks.
Bless you this weekend ...
This is a beautiful and thoughtful tribute, Linda. My life has been blessed by wonderful women. My mother was an example of service as was my mother-in-law who also was an amazing bible teacher. God has placed other women in my life too but it's hard to match those two. Even in their physical absence, their faithfulness continue to be a blessing.
ReplyDeleteAnd look at the way God called you into full time ministry ... and the countless souls you have influenced for eternity.
DeleteWow, friend! Praise God ...
Oh I just remembered I do watch the news but only this one https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug
ReplyDeleteGood news is worth sharing, right, Kathreen?!
DeleteBring it on ...
Oh, this makes me miss my mother. :( She was my first and most influential spiritual mother. I love and learn a lot from my mother-in-law as well, although she and my mom are different personalities. It's funny how I could count women younger than me in this spiritual mother category too. Grateful for the outpouring of godly women I know!
ReplyDeleteDear Lisa ... what a beautiful legacy that your mom was your first and most influential spiritual mother. There's nothing more that we could ask, is there ...
DeleteInteresting how women are mentioning that younger women are mothering them in spiritual ways. Fascinating!
You have brought to mind a woman who taught me so much about what being a Godly woman means. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful gift she gave you, friend ...
DeleteWhat I love is that no matter my age, I still have women who nurture and lead me. Sometimes the women are younger and other times they are older. I am also blessed by the natural connections God creates for me to do the same for other women. I have no doubt you are a spiritual momma to many, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI like what you've said about natural connections, Mary. Sometimes we try to force this kind of relationship and it often ends up feeling stale or artificial.
DeleteIf we're open to who God has for us, we might be surprised who He'll bring our way. And where He might send us ...
This is so wonderful. I have been led by men, mostly in my spiritual growth until about 6 years ago when our church brought in a new pastor. His wife and her mother have been such powerful influences to everyone in our church. I never knew there was a name for how mostly, our pastors wife nurtures us. She is my spiritual mother and I'm thankful for her.
ReplyDeletePraise God for the powerful influence women have in the church. The good news is that you don't have to have a title or be on a board or committee to impact lives for Christ.
DeleteI love that.
Thanks for sharing such encouraging words, Wendy!
This is sooo good. Thanks for the reminder to thank my Spiritual mom today!
ReplyDeleteOh cool! I'm glad this has served as a little prompt. She's so blessed to have you offer your appreciation ...
DeleteLove that, Tiffany.
So true, they mothered me well! God bless every woman who has stood for me in places I couldn't. Thanks for sharing, Linda. Many blessings to you!
ReplyDeleteI like how you phrased that, Boma, 'stood for me in places I couldn't.'
DeleteYes, yes. Perfectly said.