By bro Lee Tian Seng
Mothers do have a lot on their plate when it comes to taking care of their children and managing the household. At times, some mothers try too hard and forget to have self-care, and to maintain their relationship with their husband and with God.
If mothers do not have time for themselves, have proper rest and have social activities, they can get over-stretched and stressed. Such is not desirable because it makes them ineffective. To be able to care for the family, mothers must first care for themselves. The Bible teaches that we should love others as ourselves, so how can we be loving toward others if we do not love ourselves.
Matthew 22:39 - And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
If mothers are too focused in their roles, they may neglect spending time with their husbands. There is too much cleaning, cooking and attending to our children to do and so by the time all these things are completed, mothers have no more time and energy for anything. Mothers can find time by working with their husbands as partners in doing housework and bringing up children. The reward of such cooperation is that both husband and wife can have some time together. Mothers have many roles to play as is mentioned in Titus 2:4-5 but they should never forget to maintain their marriage relationship.
Titus 2:4-5 - that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
1 Corinthians 7:3 - Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.
If mothers are too busy in their roles, they might not spend time with God. Mothers need to build up their faith and draw close to God through daily Bible reading and prayers. This requires a lot of discipline. For example, they may need to wake up early for daily devotion or be strict about what time their children go to bed in the evening so that she can have some time with God before bedtime. It will be a spiritual disaster if mothers lose their faith through neglect of their spiritual growth and not attending worship services.
1 Peter 2:2 - as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.
Hebrews 10:25 - not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
I appreciate how difficult it is to be a mother and the responsibilities that they carry. I hope this exhortation does not add to their stress but provide them with a right perspective on what God teaches that Christian mothers should do.