Published June 29, 2023
What words come to mind when you hear the word “mother”?
When I think of mothers, I think of someone protective, loving, nurturing, and thoughtful. She’s someone who won’t hesitate to risk her life just to bring a new life into the world.
But while biological motherhood is a unique role, today we’ll be talking about motherhood from a different perspective: spiritual motherhood.
Whether you’re looking for a spiritual mother or aspire to be one, here’s what being a spiritual mother really means.
What is a Spiritual Mother?
Spiritual mothers fulfill a different role from biological mothers. They’re women in the church who emanate such grace that you can’t help but be inspired by them. They won’t necessarily clothe or feed you, nor will they pack your Capri Sun juice packs in your lunch box every day.
In fact, spiritual mothers don’t need to be blood-related. Instead, they serve as guides, mentors, and coaches to younger people who may not quite have a grip on their life yet.
Titus 2:3-5 gives us a glimpse of the role God envisioned for these Christian women. The verses read:
“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”
While the Bible gives us Jesus’ example to aspire towards and emulate, His is an unreachable ideal. That is because He is perfect and sinless, and we are mere humans, flawed and sinful. But don’t despair of that thought because that is exactly why we need exemplary role models in spiritual mothers.
Characteristics of a Spiritual Mother
She may not necessarily give birth to us, but a spiritual mother is a mother in every sense of the word. And like most mothers, she is:
1. Caring
Spiritual mothers nurture. How one grows up is a result of one’s nature and nurture, or simply genetics and environment. A spiritual mother who successfully nurtures her children allows them to feel the love and goodness in their hearts. Because her children know what it’s like to be genuinely loved, they’re more open to loving others. Additionally, this love allows them to see God’s love in their lives more clearly and consistently.
2. Wise
Have you ever tried going through a dark place by yourself without any light? Not only is it dangerous, but it’s also terrifying not knowing what lies in the dark. The same can be said about life. Navigating through every bump and trial is extremely difficult when we don’t have someone who knows better. Spiritual mothers give guidance by sharing their wisdom and personal experiences with their children.
3. Inspiring
Spiritual mothers motivate. When you need an extra push to get you out of your comfort zone and into beautiful opportunities, you can guarantee spiritual mothers to be there. We’ve all been there, at a crossroads where we could either choose the road of familiarity or the path that leads to new experiences. Spiritual mothers know when we should push the envelope and experience new things that will help us grow.
4. Protective
Like biological mothers, spiritual mothers will guard your heart against the evils that could corrupt it. Once a spiritual mother takes you under her wing, she’ll never let bad things happen to you under her watch. And that’s just how mothers are, shielding us from the dangerous things in life.
5. Thoughtful
Trust me on this; if you open up one time to a spiritual mother, they will never forget what you told them. If you share a problem or something you’re going through with them, they’ll always have you at the back of their minds. They’ll always pray for you, asking God to give you the strength to overcome whatever you’re going through. Most mothers are inherently like this. They may not outwardly show it, but they do these little things that remind you they’re there, watching over you.
6. Godly
A spiritual mother desires God and does not hesitate to pass it on to her children. She helps them strengthen their identity in Christ and instill His words in them. She shows them how to serve God by being God’s servant herself and glorifying Him in all that she does.
You Can Be a Spiritual Mother
The list above is just some of the roles spiritual mothers fulfill in others’ lives. God commands us to be there for one another (Galatians 6:2), carrying each other’s burdens. This is the beauty of being part of a church, a village. It reminds us that we are not alone in whatever fight we have. You can be that person others can confide in and trust to guide them down the right path. You can be a spiritual mother.
