Good mothers are needed today more than ever.
William Ross Wallace wrote in 1865 the poem “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Rules the World.” Mothers have a tremendous responsibility. Dads are important also, but moms normally have a great influence on the leaders of tomorrow. God’s word tells us about many mothers who influenced their children for good.
Hannah comes to mind when thinking of mothers of the Old Testament. She desperately wanted a child. Her wisdom is seen as when faced with a problem for which she could find no solution, she prayed to God.
This example is one mothers today should follow as they raise their children: Remember to pray and pray often. New mothers can find many fine books on how to care for their children, but the Bible is still the best book to get help in rearing a child. Prayer and Bible study should be a part of each little one’s formative years.
Hannah also was willing to keep her promise to God and brought the young lad to Eli as she had promised. “And she said, … For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him: Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there” (1 Sam. 1:26-28).
Notice she “lent him to the Lord.” What a wonderful thing for a mother to do. We need more Hannah’s willing to train boys to follow God and then to encourage them to become preachers of the gospel. Young boys and girls need to see the example of both mothers and fathers becoming Christians, working diligently for God and putting God first at all time.
Another who stands out as a example of motherhood is Naomi. We read how she endured many hardships in her life. Her family lived during the time of a great famine, having to travel to Moab to find food.
This would be a great hardship, but more happens to her. “And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons” (Ruth 1:3).
Some women might have given up and turned from following God, but evidence shows Naomi continued to serve her God. Her sons marry women of Moab, Orpah and Ruth. They resided there about 10 years and the sons died.
Naomi heard that the famine was over in her homeland so she set about to go back, leaving Moab. She told her daughters-in-law of her plans and told them to return to their homes. Ruth shows us by her statement to Naomi just what an influence Naomi had been on her.
She said, “Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me” (Ruth 1:16,17). Matthew records the name of Ruth in the lineage of Christ.      In the New Testament, two mothers that stand out as those who made a difference are Lois and Eunice. Paul said, “When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also” (2 Tim. 1:5). When we read of all that Timothy was trusted to do by Paul, Lois and Eunice’s influence is seen.
Their instruction of Timothy in the scriptures serves as an example for mothers to do the same. “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15).
Nursery rhymes have their place, but the scriptures need to have a prominent place in the raising of children.