Although delayed but not forgotten, I wish to say happy Mother’s Day to all of the moms. Perhaps you are a married mother of young children. Perhaps you are a married mom but an empty-nester. Perhaps you are a single mom struggling but lovingly to raise your child/children. Perhaps you are a mommy on the way with a baby in the tummy. Or perhaps you are a mom somewhere in the middle. Often the one person who struggles and sacrifices the most while others drift off to sleep or play are the devoted moms.
With much of the focus toward men in the Bible, women may feel marginalized or viewed as an asset/expense, a ball and chain, or a commodity. Moms may feel as if they are ignored while others get the glory. After all the number of women who did something phenomenal were usually the ones who received credit and noticed in the Bible. Multiple verses, chapters, or even a whole book may be devoted to them…but for many women then and today, you may feel pulled back behind the curtains with no recognition or credit. A title often ascribed is an “unsung hero”.
Recorded in three of the four Gospels is a woman who is deathly sick with a severe fever. This woman was not just any woman, she was a mom. Life was filled with many duties of cooking, cleaning, tending, sewing, loving, and more. It is said that being a mother is a job where there is no paid over time and no sick leave. With one hand this woman is swift to swat a bottom of a disobedient child and with the other she is ready to hug and show unending love. Hands that for decades made delicious and nutritious meals out of very little and pulled off miracles by fixing and mending, now lay beside her hot and sweaty body. Her hair once put up often as indication of a woman ready to work, now her hair is soaked in sweat. She was known in the community to be a mom’s mom; she lovingly helped when and where she could. Even though she was a widow and only had a daughter, Peter (son-in-law) and Andrew welcomed her and referred to her affectionately as mom. The eventual desire of any parent is to become a grandparent; but due to this fever, her life may be stolen before Peter and his wife have any children. She was used to her house—even if it were not her own—put in order and clean, always ready to receive guests. Now everything and everyone is making, in her opinion, an unnecessary fuss over her and yet she has no strength to fight. Her breathing is very labored. This woman lies fighting for her life with a dreadful fever. She may be dead by morning, it is feared.
This mom is not alone as many moms before and even now may share a fairly similar testimony of duty, work ethic, and love. A mom who could do everything with all her heart for everyone else now cannot do anything for herself except lie there dying. Shadows were growing on the walls and soon the room will be lit with only a single lamp beside the woman and her daughter tenderly wiping the beads of sweat and yet failing to bring any relief.
There is a growing noise of a conversation going on outside when the door opens. A stern look from Peter’s wife immediately silences these three men—Jesus, Peter, and Andrew—as they enter the home. Peter’s wife quickly goes back to her tending with worry and sadness written on her face. Her mom may never know the joy of holding a grandchild. Jesus stepped toward her as if to put a wedge between mother and daughter. With His right hand extended, Jesus leans forward a little and quietly (but with authority) rebukes the fever and slowly lifts the woman to her feet. Every second as she moves she is amazed at how quickly she is recovering more and more. With a huge smile on her face, she puts her hair back up and proceeds to the kitchen to prepare the evening meal—hopefully Peter and Andrew brought fish home. As she is off in the kitchen, she looks at her hands. Hands that were moments ago weak and sickly, now stronger than ever. She happily sighs and looks to Heaven and mouths a heart-filled “thank You” to God. She calls her daughter to make haste as they prepare the food and hospitality to Jesus and the family.
This event represents how God looks upon everyone, especially moms, to touch them in their own specific need. He sees your faithfulness and duty. God truly and personally understands the lack of thanks you may get. But Jesus extended Himself for a mom. Mom, Jesus is extending Himself to you. Whatever it is that is etched on your face or burdened in your heart, He is there to lift you up.