This Mother’s Day, as I lay on the
couch recovering from my gallbladder surgery, I read this quote by Patricia
Holland posted in a meme on therhouse.com Facebook page, “In a poignant
exchange with God, Adam states that he will call the woman Eve. And why does he
call her Eve? ‘Because she is the mother of all living.’ (Genesis 3:20; Moses
4:26) … Eve was given the identity of ‘the mother of all living’ –years,
decades, perhaps centuries before she ever bore a child. It would appear that
her motherhood preceded her maternity, just as surely as the perfection of the
Garden preceded the struggles of mortality.”
To most people, a mother is
someone who has given birth to or is raising children. In fact, the Oxford
Dictionaries defines the word “mother” as, “A woman in relation to a child or
children to whom she has given birth.”1 So, by definition, I am not
a mother. But, if Eve was a mother before she had children, maybe I am too.
What made her a mother? I think that motherhood is being in possession of the
greatest attributes of womanhood.
I decided that if I study the
attributes of great mothers and women, I can use those attributes to become one
of the greats myself.
·
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was there for Christ
during His trials and sufferings. She stood by Him while he hung on the cross.2
I would say that she was empathetic and compassionate. I can do that.
·
The mothers of the 2000 stripling warriors
taught them about God, right and wrong, and obedience. They were teachers.3,4
They were teachers. I can be that.
·
The amazing Emma Smith endured hardships and was
a comfort to her husband and others. I’m trying to be that. She also had a
spirit of meekness, used consoling words, and laid aside the things of the world.5
There are countless other scriptural examples and models of
great women that I see in my everyday life, including my own earthly mother. It
would be impossible to list them all. I think that if I strive to be a great
woman, I will find that I am a mother, with or without children. Join me in
claiming your motherhood.
References:
2.
John 19:25
3.
Alma 56:47
4.
Alma 57:21
5.
D&C 25
