“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

Exodus 20:12

Mother’s Day is a special time because it gives us an opportunity to do something God told us to do every day—honor our mothers. In fact, honoring our parents is so important to God that He placed it in the Ten Commandments. “Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:2–3). Notice that God attached a promise to this command. Honor opens the door to blessing.

Honor is not based on perfection. It’s based on God’s design. Whether your mother is with you today or has gone on to be with the Lord, whether your relationship has been easy or complicated, the position of “mother” carries weight in the kingdom of God. She is the vessel God used to bring you into this world, and that alone is worthy of honor.

When Paul wrote to Timothy, he reminded him of something powerful: “I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice” (2 Timothy 1:5). Before Timothy ever preached a sermon or traveled with Paul, faith was being formed in him at home. Mothers are often the first faith-carriers in a child’s life. Long before a child can read Scripture, they read the life of their mother.

God even uses the picture of a mother to describe His own heart. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you” (Isaiah 66:13). Think about that. When God wanted to explain His comfort, He pointed to a mother. That tells us something profound. The tenderness, patience, and compassion we see in godly mothers are not just personality traits—they are reflections of God’s nature.

Proverbs 31 describes a woman who is strong, wise, diligent, and full of dignity. It says, “Her children rise up and call her blessed.” A godly mother may not always feel strong, but the strength God has placed in her is real. Much of what she does is unseen by the world, but it is fully seen by God. Heaven keeps good records.

Of course, Mother’s Day can also be a tender day. Some are missing their mothers. Some long to be mothers. Some carry memories that are painful. But the same God who designed motherhood is the God who heals, restores, and fills every empty place. He is near to the brokenhearted, and His comfort is real.

Today, we bless every mother—past, present, and future. We thank God for the love you’ve given, the prayers you’ve prayed, the tears you’ve cried, and the faith you’ve lived out in front of your families. May the Lord strengthen you, refresh you, and surround you with His peace. And may your children rise up—not just today, but every day—and call you blessed.

Happy Mother’s Day.