Gold Nugget 365 - As a Mother Loves

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      Love, in this world, always brings grief, through making the sorrows of others our own, as well as rendering us sensitive to their treatment of ourselves.  The more deep and tender the love, so much the more poignant the grief.  And, as a mother loves most, she is most susceptible of sorrow.  She is often pained by her children when they do not think it; and every stroke inflicted on them strikes her to the heart. …

      She loves because it is her nature – freely, spontaneously, making no calculation, asking for no return.  Not without hope, indeed, that she may one day be rewarded by her children’s welfare and affection; but far from regulating her love by this; rather she lavishes it most on those from whom she cannot expect recompense – the weakest, the most sickly, those most likely to die; yea, as Rizpah, those who are dead.  “Death might bereave her of them, not them or her love” (Bishop Hall). …

      Prompting to and sustaining in arduous labours, long and wearisome watchings, self-inflicted privations, for the good of her children.  For the sake of their education and advancement, she cheerfully gives up, not only luxuries, but comforts, and even necessaries.  And when they have gone beyond her reach into the unseen world, their mortal remains are dear to her, and she will spare nothing that may honour them or prevent dishonour to them. …

      A mother’s love is lifelong.  “A mother’s truth keeps constant youth.”  It endures through years of toil, hardship, and suffering; when feebly responded to, or quite unappreciated, or requited by neglect, hardness, or cruel wrong.  When son or daughter is utterly debased and degraded, the mother clings and hopes; when cast off by all the world, she does not abandon them. …

      And although usually the light of a mother’s love shines chiefly in the privacy of home, and she neither asks nor expects applause or record, it is impossible that she can act a noble part without exercising an influence for good which may widen and ramify far more than she could have imagined, and may secure her an honour she never desired.  And if no others, “her children arise up, and called her blessed”, and tell of her character and works to their children. …

      If human love be so deep and strong, what must be the love of God, from whom it springs, and of which it is one great sign and proof?  All the love of all parents, of all human beings, flows from this original Fountain.  The Fountain is greater than the streams. …

      How strong and constant should be the love of children for their mothers!  Prompting them to all that would gratify and honour them and promote their happiness; to self-denial and self-sacrifice for their good, should they live to need the help of their children; and to patience and forbearance towards them, should they, under the infirmities of old age, make demands on these virtues.         “Despise not thy mother when she is old”.

      How base the conduct of many children (especially of many sons) to their mothers!  Selfishly wasting their resources, imposing on their credulity, abusing their indulgence, disgracing their name, breaking their hearts.  “A foolish [wicked] son is the heaviness of his mother”.

 

The Pulpit Commentary, II Samuel p.527-528, II Samuel 21:10, (G. Wood)

See also:  Proverbs 31:28, Proverbs 10:1

 

Gold Nugget 365

As a Mother Loves

 

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