The Gift Of Mothering

The Gift of Mothering

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

“Are you taking your pain meds? You need to stay on top of the pain.” My text zinged off before I fully appreciated that I had just mothered a woman who was close to my mother’s age.

I quickly followed up with an apology, explaining that I care about her, that I had a feeling she was trying to tough out the pain of her broken wrist, and that I just wanted her to be comfortable so her body could focus on healing rather than pain.

“Oh, Julie. Thank you for mothering me. My mom has been gone for a long time, and I sometimes need to be mothered,” she texted back. Her response was gracious, and it had me pondering the gift of mothering in the weeks since our conversation. While we should be careful about giving unsolicited advice to acquaintances, there is sometimes a need for gently mothering the women in our circles.

What is mothering? It is advice and gentle admonishment, often about self-care, wrapped up in a warm hug of affection and love. It is reminding another woman that she is important, that she has worth, and that what she has to offer the world is valuable. It is being another woman’s confidante, her prayer support, her cheerleader. It is being willing to set aside the to-do list to meet for coffee and hash out a hard situation another woman is facing, pointing her always back toward God. It’s always having her best interests at heart—in all the words we say and in all the actions we take. Mothering is gently pushing another woman into taking the jump into what God is calling her to do, it is challenging the lies she is believing, it is loving her despite her imperfections.

In a loyal friendship, we can mother another woman by being there spiritually and physically during a time of need. Regardless of whether we are earthly mothers in the traditional sense, we are called to spiritually mother one another.

— Julie

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

Think of a friend in your circles who needs mothering, whether a coworker, a neighbor, or an extended family member. Reach out in motherly love.