Mothers have as powerful an influence over the well-being of future generations as all other earthly causes combined.

A genuine and thorough reformation must begin in the family, which is the foundation of all social institutions – both civil and religious. And although the father of a family can never excuse himself from the full responsibility of leading his wife and children in the ways of holiness, yet it is true that the Lord has placed a very distinguished honor upon the work of pious mothers in the home. Their hands plant precious seed in their children’s hearts; their prayers and tears water the growing plants; their kind, seasonable, and well-adapted instructions distill into the tender and susceptible minds, like the gentle rain on the tender grass, or the more imperceptible dew upon thirsty plants. The most important lectures are not those which are delivered with solemn pomp in the pulpits, but those which flow sweetly from the affectionate lips of mothers to their group of little ones gathered around their knees. No eloquence equals that of a sensible and pious mother, because no impressions made by human speech are so deep and indelible. These lessons, whether she knows it or not, are being engraved on tablets of human hearts – from which, the inscription can never entirely be obliterated.

Dear mothers! Reflect upon the power your Maker has placed in your hands! There is no earthly influence that can be compared with yours. In a most peculiar sense, God has constituted you as the guardians and the controllers of the human family.

O that God would give every mother a vision of the glory and splendor of the work that is given to her, when a babe is placed in her bosom to be cared for and trained! If she could have just one glimpse into the future of that life, as it reaches on into eternity; if she could only look into its soul and see its possibilities; if she could be made to understand her own personal responsibility for the training of this child, for the development of its life, and for its destiny – she would see that in all God’s world, there is no other work so noble and so worthy of her best powers; and she would commit to no other hands the sacred and holy trust that has been given to her!

The woman who makes a sweet, beautiful home – filling it with love and prayer and purity – is doing something better than anything else her hands could find to do beneath the skies. A true mother is one of the holiest secrets of home happiness. God sends many beautiful things to this world, and many noble gifts; but no blessing is richer than that which He bestows in a mother who has learned love’s lessons well, and has realized something of the meaning of her sacred calling.

To all the noble women who have raised us and loved us from the earliest days of our childhood, we thank you for your devotion and care; and we hope and pray that our sisters and daughters may follow in your footsteps.

God bless you, mothers, this day and always!

All for our King’s glory,
Christian

P.S. If you were blessed by the words above, you may also enjoy one of my older posts about Motherhood, entitled “Keepers of the Springs.” Click here if you would like to read it.

photos (in order of appearance) by Prixel Creative and Pamela Maxwell |  Lightstock.com

The thoughts in this post were compiled and adapted from the writings of J. R. Miller, John Abbott, and Archibald Alexander.