The Mustard Seed Mum: Leading By Example – Hope With Ruth Podcast
Do you have someone that you look up to? Someone that you want to emulate in some way? For me, it’s my Mum. She has modelled for me what following Jesus looks like as a wife and mother, even in the hardest and most hopeless of circumstances. She was the one who led me to know Jesus more deeply. Even when my father walked out before I was born and others suggested that I should be aborted, my Mum kept me and nurtured me. She prayed over me growing up and continues to do so today. She sends me helpful videos to inspire my faith. Most importantly, she has shown me how to know the Lord through reading the Bible, praying and singing! Does that mean that she is free from flaws? Of course not. She knows that she is a sinner in need of a wonderful Saviour. That Saviour that she praises and sings to is Jesus Christ.
When I was growing up I didn’t appreciate just how living day by day alongside my Mum would impact me. Through both good and bad circumstances, the foundations of my faith were planted when I was young. It is God who has given the growth to my own journey of faith as I walk with Him, and He continues to tenderly nurture me (1 Corinthians 3:5-9). He has sustained me and refined me through the valley of suffering, and He has given me an everlasting hope in Himself. As I look to raise my own children, I hope that they will see the beauty of Christ in my life as I have witnessed the beauty of it in my Mum’s life.
The role of being a mother is a call to die to yourself. It is laying down your life to raise and disciple the next generation. It’s a life of sacrifice. I honestly had no idea what this looked like before children or how much work is involved. My Mum took care of me and made it look so straightforward. Now, I look back and think how did she do it (!) and what a gift to treasure. Not all have experienced the love from such a kind, compassionate, generous mother as mine. She worked hard to manage her home, look after three children with different needs and faced so many obstacles which could have crippled her along the way. But it was not in and of herself, but Christ in her that gave her the strength to do what was and still is required of her in every moment. Through endless trials, she continues to trust quietly in her Lord.
As I started writing this post I planned to share a few other examples of godly mothers with you. That will be a series to come in the future hopefully. However, I think I will leave this post solely for my own mother, who I dearly love and appreciate. She is my sister in Christ and my friend. I pray that I can love well, give generously, care considerably, have compassion in abundance and follow Jesus as deeply as her.
Thank you, Mum.
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness. She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.
Proverbs 31:25-27 NLT
An Anchored Hope 