This Sunday, Americans will celebrate another Mother’s Day. Since everyone has a mother, it’s an important proposition to honor them. Biblical, too. You know, “honor your father and mother” is one of the Big Ten.

One Illinois mom who has an extra reason to celebrate this year is Caron Lamen. In February, this Aurora mom was at home alone with her daughter Aria. Caron suddenly passed out while talking to her daughter.

Aria quickly called her father. Then 911. The dispatcher kept Aria on the line while giving her instructions as the girl checked on mom’s breathing. As Caron Lamen would say, “For her to do what she did and stay so calm is amazing.” Indeed.

Aria then had to compose herself to help first responders get the needed information to save Caron’s life. The dispatcher, Tracie Whalen, sent the ambulance. Observed Tracie,”I’ve taken calls for 30 years. I have never seen a kid ever do as well as she did. I don’t see most adults do as well as she did.”

Mom came back home after spending 16 days in the hospital. Such a godly blessing! And what a special Mother’s Day this will be for the Lamen family!

But worth noting, how many mothers have been by their child’s side as they struggled with the many issues of life? Too many to count. Whether it’s an illness or injury, an emotional or relational problem, or some other form of pain, a loving mom will be the chief support person for her children.

One seemingly impossible task is to select a national “Mother of the Year.” Yes, there is such a competition. And the nominees appear to be selected having earned the same title in their home state.

Rachel Ternstrom was selected by the nonprofit American Mothers Inc. as the 2022 Illinois Mother of the Year. (Not able to find a 2023 winner yet.) The Rolling Meadows woman was the 72nd woman in Illinois history to receive the honor.  She has two daughters.

Ms. Ternstrom graduated from DePaul University. She worked for many years in the recruiting and sales industry. Then she became a stay-at-home mom. Her passions are interior styling and home decor.

I personally know a previous state of Illinois winner. Her name is Kendra Smiley. She was selected as the Illinois Mother of the Year in 2001. Kendra was the “baby” in her family and a true achiever. This woman graduated with highest honors from the University of Illinois and earned her Master of Science degree from the University of North Dakota. Again, graduating with highest honors.

Kendra and her husband John have raised three sons. She is a true “Proverbs 31 woman” having spent years as a teacher and a girls basketball coach. Kendra also served as a church and community leader. She’s a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

A few years ago, Kendra gave women a wonderful devotional blessing. It’s a book titled, Mother of the Year: 365 Days of Encouragement for Devoted Moms. Along with her several other books, Kendra has touched the lives of women as a speaker and host of the daily radio program Live Life Intentionally. She has also been a blogger a TV personality.

While every one of us has a mother, not everyone has a mom with whom they feel connected. And, of course, there are women across our country who are unable to have children and experience the joys—and pains—of motherhood. Yes, the celebration of Mother’s Day annually can leave gaps.

My children have learned from my wife not to greet women randomly with “Happy Mother’s Day.” Unless, of course, she’s your own mother! That greeting is reserved only for that maternal relationship.

There is a mother who stands head and shoulders above all others. She gave birth to the Savior of the world—Jesus the Messiah. Her name is Mary.

When this special “pregnant virgin” went to visit her cousin, here is the account: “Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.’” (Luke 1:42, NLT)

The opportunity to be a mother means a woman has been blessed to bring life to another soul in this world. What a privilege! And honor. Even…a divine calling.

Being a mother is often a thankless job. I know because I wasn’t properly thankful for my own mother when I was young (sorry, Mom!), and I also see how often my own young children take my wife for granted.

Not only that, but our culture is becoming increasingly conflicted about motherhood. On the one hand, we do recognize the importance of moms, and many of us are thankful for the role our own mother played in our life. But at the same time, we’re seeing a general devaluing of a mother’s role and the whole concept of motherhood. Too often children are viewed as encumbrances to a woman’s education, career, or life goals.

In other words, having kids is fine and good once you’ve reached a certain point in your life, but they’re not worth sacrificing your future for.

Perhaps that’s why we’re seeing the average age for first-time motherhood increasing and the number of intentionally childless couples on the rise.

The holy purpose of bearing and raising children is being lost in our culture. Raising the next generation is increasingly an afterthought to college and career—something we do after everything else has been taken care of, and even then perhaps only if we really want to and think it will be meaningful and fulfilling.

This isn’t the viewpoint of a culture aligned with Scripture and God’s views of motherhood. It’s the perspective of a culture that has lost its way and has been distracted from the things that matter most by things that matter far less.

With all of that in mind, I’d like to say emphatically and without equivocation that moms matter. Raising the next generation for the glory of God isn’t a lowly calling. It’s not a second-class job compared to pursuing a career, running for office, writing a book, traveling the world, or starting a business.

That might not be the message of the world, but it’s a message we need to hear.

If the value of a job is determined by how long its impact lasts, you’d be hard pressed to find a calling that outranks motherhood. After all, as a mom, you’re shaping lives that will most likely last for decades on this earth, and then for eternity beyond. Not only that, the children you’re raising will impact others for both life and eternity as well.

I’m not here to demean anyone’s career, but how many professional women can say that their daily responsibilities and decisions will resound through endless ages to come?

If the value of a job is determined by the effort it demands and the hours it requires you to be available, you would again be hard pressed to find a calling that surpasses motherhood. Few other jobs require you to be constantly available and on call any hour of the day or night. The demands are high and the sacrifices are real.

If the value of a job is determined by the wisdom required to perform it well, motherhood again outranks virtually all other options. How much wisdom does it require to nurture young hearts and minds, helping our children learn to navigate life in a way that honors God and allows them to lead fruitful lives?

Frankly, such wisdom can only come from God. But I believe He delights in granting it to the overwhelmed mom who cries out for it with a needy and believing heart.

By any of these measures, motherhood is indeed a high calling.

And I would dare say you know that. But perhaps it doesn’t hurt to be reminded.

Speaking more personally for a moment, it’s no exaggeration to say I don’t know where I would be without my mother. She wasn’t perfect, but she worked faithfully to fulfill the calling God gave her.

And that, I think, is something all parents would do well to copy.

Our children don’t need us to be perfect—which is good, because we can’t be. But they do need us to be faithful.

There are so many things a godly mother should be: kind, just, capable, encouraging, wise, firm, and loving, just to name a few. But these would matter little if they weren’t undergirded by daily faithfulness.

Faithfulness as a mother matters because motherhood itself matters. Your children matter. And they need you.

Don’t let anyone tell you that being a mom isn’t important. And don’t let our messed up culture get you down, feeling like you’re a second-class citizen if you’ve made the noble choice to be a full-time mom instead of pursuing a career.

So I challenge and encourage you: be a faithful mom. Fulfill the high calling God has given you.

And one day, your children might even say thank you.

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