Maternal Love by Vannetta Chapman
I’m wondering how many of you have been blessed with a godly woman in your life? Maybe it’s your mother or grandmother; maybe it’s an aunt or a cousin or a friend. It could be someone you’ve known your entire life or someone you met recently. Regardless of who or how long, these relationships nurture us. These are people we can trust, who will listen to our hurts and celebrate with your joys.
I like to write about these types of relationships. I realize we don’t all have a perfect mother or a best-friend sister, but I think most people have at least one maternal figure in their life that they are grateful for.
In the story A Promise for Miriam, we see this relationship between Miriam and her mom (even though her mother makes some terrible herbal tea for Miriam to drink when she’s sick). And we see how Miriam passes on the same love and kindness to the new little girl in her school—Grace.
I try to emphasize that it’s not about being perfect, since none of us can be that. Rather it’s about not judging one another, offering a calm and peaceful presence, committing to praying for one another, and encouraging one another.
I’m not sure there is any stronger bond than that between a mother and her child (except maybe a father and his child). It’s something that truly lasts a lifetime. As a mom, I understand that I would do absolutely anything for my children—including my stepchildren. They are more than an extension of ourselves. They’re also a blessing and an important part of the future. They are, essentially, more valuable than our own life. That’s just what being a mom means. That you put the child first.
Proverbs 31 describes a woman of “noble character.” Deuteronomy and Exodus and Ephesians remind us to honor our mothers. Proverbs 6:20 tells us to “not forsake your mother’s teaching.” We are reminded of Sarah’s love for Isaac, Elizabeth’s love for John, and Mary’s love for Jesus. Scripture is resplendent with stories of mothers and children and the sacred bond that exists between us.
Often in my stories, I depict mothers and grandmothers who are old, somewhat feeble, but giants in the faith. They consider Scripture to be their lifeline, and they share those precious verses when my heroine is in trouble.
In A Wedding for Julia, Ada is the cause of Julia’s distress and yet she is also the reminder of her salvation. Ada consistently and patiently reminds Julia of the faithfulness of God and the truth of His word.
I’ve been blessed with many nurturing women in my life—my mother, my sister, my mother-in-law, very close friends. These ladies provide a stability to my life that helps me to handle the very bad days. I can count on each of these women, and they’ve inspired me to be that same type of person to others. I want to be the one who listens, who doesn’t judge, who guides with God’s word and His love and His mercy.
I understand that our mothers aren’t perfect, and everyone doesn’t have a mother that they can look up to. For some of us, our mothers have passed or perhaps they haven’t been the godly example that we would have wished for. But I like to think that God had a plan when he placed us in the arms of the woman who bore us. Whether we understand that plan or not, we can honor it. And though I’m not a perfect mom (just ask my children), I can vow to make my children a priority, to lead them with a kind and gentle hand, and to remind them of the truth of God’s love.
I’m praying that this Mother’s Day will be extra special and remind you of your Father’s abiding love.
Blessings!
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Vannetta Chapman has published more than 100 articles in Christian family magazines. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace in Albion, Pennsylvania. Vannetta is a multi-award-winning member of Romance Writers of America. She was a teacher for 15 years and currently resides in the Texas Hill country. Her first two inspirational novels—A Simple Amish Christmas and Falling to Pieces—were Christian Book Distributors bestsellers.
Photo of Vannetta and friends courtesy of the author.
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Love all of Vannetta’s books and especially her cozy mysteries. She’s my kind of author.
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Amber Stokes Reply:
June 25th, 2015 at 3:25 pm
That’s awesome, Shirley! What’s not to love about her writing, right?
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My first Vannetta Chapman book was The Christmas Quilt and I loved it! I have to say, though, I’ve loved everything I’ve read since then, too!
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