Those Who First Held Us

Isaiah 66:13 “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you”

Summary: Mother’s Day reminds us that the love, nurture, sacrifice, and steady presence of

mothers and mothering figures shape both our emotional lives and our understanding of God’s care.

Dear Church Family,

Mother’s Day always stirs something deep within us. For some, it is gratitude and joy. For

others, it carries grief, longing, or complicated memories. Yet no matter our story, Scripture and human experience both testify to the extraordinary importance of those who nurture life with compassion, courage, and steadfast love.

Modern psychology research continues to affirm what many of us already know in our bones.

Loving and emotionally present caregivers profoundly shape a child’s sense of safety, resilience, empathy, and self-worth. Researchers studying attachment and emotional development consistently show that nurturing relationships help children learn trust, emotional regulation, and even hope. The presence of a caring adult can shape the entire course of a person’s life.

The Bible understood this long before psychology gave it language. Throughout Scripture,

mothers are not merely background characters. They are protectors, teachers, prophets, leaders, and bearers of courage. Moses survived because of the fierce determination of his mother and sister. Hannah prayed her grief into hope and dedicated Samuel to God’s service. Mary carried Jesus not only in her womb, but through danger, uncertainty, and heartbreak.

Even more striking, Scripture repeatedly uses maternal imagery to describe God. God is

compared to a mother comforting her child, a mother eagle protecting her young, and a woman unwilling to forget the child of her own body. These images remind us that tenderness is not weakness. Compassion is holy strength.

This week, I find myself grateful not only for biological mothers, but for all those who have

mothered others into fuller life. Teachers. Grandmothers. Nurses. Mentors. Foster parents.

Stepparents. Church members who quietly encourage the lonely and protect the vulnerable.

Every act of nurturing love reflects something sacred about the heart of God.

And perhaps that is part of our calling as Christians. To become people who help others feel safe enough to grow, brave enough to heal, and loved enough to flourish.

With a mother’s love,

Mother Anny+

Prayer: God of tenderness and compassion, thank you for those who have nurtured, protected, and guided us through life. Help us become people who reflect your healing and steadfast love to others. Amen.