A Heart Overflowing with Motherly Affection

Titus 2:3,4, "[The older women] admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children."

Phileo is the word God chose to convey mother-love here in Titus 2:4. This is an affectionate love, a love that cherishes its object. It is friendship love, a love that enjoys children, a love that likes them! God calls parents to build the family on a foundation of Biblical teaching, instruction, and discipline. The home gains a heart, however, when parents not only love their children but like them as well.

1.  A Heart That Prays

The greatest gift of love you and I can give our children is to pray for them. Beginning each day by praying for your children benefits them in countless ways even as it draws them deeper into your heart. What kind of prayers are you praying for your dear children?

2.  A Heart That Provides

A heart overflowing with motherly affection lovingly and graciously provides the necessities of life for her precious family -- nourishing food, clean clothing, and a safe home. Although we may not get too excited about running our homes on a schedule or cooking another meal or doing another load of laundry, a heart filled with motherly affection does just that. It puts self aside and loves the people in her home by caring for their physical needs.

Many mothers wonder why their children act up, talk back, are grumpy, and require so much discipline. Maybe it's because Mom isn't providing the basics of nutritious, scheduled meals, clean bodies, clean clothes, and adequate sleep and rest.

3.  A Heart That Is Happy

When our children (and our husbands!) can count on us to be happy, home life and family relationships take a leap toward heaven. When the alarm has just gone off in the morning, or you're picking the children up from school, or they're walking in the door after their own activities, they need to know that you will be happy.

Proverbs 15:13a, "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance."

Proverbs 17:22a, "A merry heart does good, like medicine."

3.  A Heart That Gives

The Bible is full of exhortations for Christians to be about the business of giving. As we've seen several times already, that's how our Savior lived. Here are a few principles that can help us be mothers who give, mothers who serve -- and who do so with affection, warmth, and energy.

Give because it is your role.

Mark 10:45, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Because of who God is, a woman after His heart is a woman who gives. As Christians we are to give, as wives we are to give, as mothers we are to give, as singles we are to give, as members of a church body we are to give. We give the smile, the cheerful greeting, the hug, the compliment, the encouragement, the praise, the meal, the time, the listening ear, the ride . . . and list goes on and on.

Give generously.

Take heed of these two sowing and reaping passages from the New Testament:

2 Corinthians 9:6, "But this I say: He [She] who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he [she] who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully."

Galatians 6:7, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever a man [mother] sows, that he [she] will also reap.

Give expecting nothing in return.

Even as we consider the principle of sowing and reaping, we must remember that mothers are to have no ulterior or selfish motives when it comes to giving. We serve and take care of our children simply because God says to.

5.  A Heart of Fun

Living in your home should be an absolute ball for every family member. Learn to smile and laugh -- a lot!  Don't take yourself too seriously.  

Lord, just for today, help my heart overflow with motherly affection by filling me with your joy. Help me realize that it's okay to laugh and it's okay to have fun.  Amen.