Motherhood

Mothers and Daughters

Mothers often fail to savor the precious, fleeting moments with their daughters. In rushing through life, they sometimes take time only for the high spots, while the small, daily experiences that give life its character and the most delicious and meaningful moments are all but lost in the shuffle. The lasting and eternal are engulfed in triviality.

There is no better opportunity to enjoy life’s small, mundane responsibilities than to invest time and energy in lifestyle teaching of your daughter — giving her instruction on how to care for younger children, to fix family meals, to study the art and method of homemaking, even teaching her to set a table with care and creativity (see Titus 2:3–5). Sensing pleasure and significance in caring for the simple needs of the family is caught as well as taught (2 Cor. 3:2, 3) so that irksome, bothersome, and irritating chores become meaningful, delightful, and rewarding opportunities for service.

There are many practical ways of spending time together without making elaborate plans. In the biblical story of Mary and Martha, Martha was not rebuked by the Lord for setting the table, cooking, sweeping the floor, or decorating the house. She was not doing anything wrong, but her priorities were not right at that time.

Busy with good things, she missed her opportunity for the best thing (Luke 10:38–42). Many mothers today are busy with good things, but miss the opportunity for the best thing—investing time in a daughter (Ps. 127:3–5).

Childhood cannot be used over again for another set of memories (Deut 6:10–25). Therefore, the spending of time is an irrevocable act that cannot be used again (Eph. 5:15–17). No day or even hour can be recaptured. What greater delight than to work side by side with your daughters, mentoring and modeling and sharing.

Taken from The Woman’s Study Bible