Wednesday, May 14, 2014

The Motherhood Project: Part 3



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