my collection of moms

May I confess something? I have a chronic case of mom-greed. I long for a mom. Most girls want husbands. I'm only sort of joking when I tell people that I'm not looking for a husband . . . I just want the mother-in-law; and when I find the mother-in-law I want, then I'll marry her son. But you know, even should I find the "perfect" mother-in-law, she will only be human and flawed. One day she too will die, leaving me again to be motherless; which proves to me that ultimate satisfaction can only be found in the One who never changes, never dies, never leaves me alone, and is going to wipe away every tear.

But do you know how kind God is, who not only is Father to the fatherless, but raises up mothers for the motherless? One of the symptoms of my mom-greed is that I collect spiritual moms (although I don't think this is a bad thing at all). My spiritual moms range in age, from long-dead to barely old enough to be my mother. My spiritual moms do the things that my real mom would have--they encourage me, rebuke me, build me up in the faith, go shopping, talk, sing, cry, hug, bake, cook. . . .

I think that everyone should have a spiritual mom or two or six. Why? Titus 2:3-5 gives a pretty good reason. And you don't have to personally know a woman for her to mother you, and she doesn't have to be a real mother. What is something that mothers universally do? They feed you! So what does a spiritual mother do? She feeds you spiritually and sends you to Jesus! Here are a few that I'm willing to share with you.

Amy Carmichael. Over and over again, she has sweetly ministered to my soul. She's more than just a sister in Christ. She mothers me, just as she mothered countless little children in India. Do you want a mom who, in lovely rhyme and verse, can destroy the defense you've built up for your sin? Her little book If will break your heart.

Elizabeth Prentiss. If you have never read Stepping Heavenward, oh, you don't know what you're missing! Like a skilled surgeon with a wickedly sharp scalpel, she is aggressive to cut out the sin. My sanctification is the goal! Like a mother, she desires my spiritual well being.

Elisabeth Elliot. I don't think there's been a single more influential person on my life than Elisabeth Elliot. Of all spiritual moms, she is chief. She's given me such good counsel. I can't even recommend one book more than another. We can hardly do better than to take instruction from her.

My other spiritual moms are several women who are in my life. Like the more "famous" ones, they feed me spiritually, only in person rather than on paper. Ladies, do you realize how precious your ministry is to those of us who look up to you as to mothers? Maybe our moms are dead, or absent, or uninvolved, or indifferent, or even cruel. Thank you, thank you for your ministry, for entering our lives and being more than just a friend, more than just a sister, for coming alongside as a mentor and teacher. I know well that God sees your labor of love on our behalf and will overwhelmingly repay you on that day!