Learning from Moms: The Gift of Selflessness
As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, I think it's only appropriate if we take some time to recognize just how incredible mothers truly are. Take a moment to think about your mom, grandmother, aunt, or any influential female figure in your life and how they’ve modeled the characteristic of selflessness.
I believe one of the best examples we have to learn what true selflessness looks like is from mothers. They go above and beyond for their children and families and display unconditional love. Not only do they carry their unborn child for nine months, but continue to provide for and support their child for the rest of their lives. Moms make tremendous sacrifices for their kids, often placing their family’s needs above their own.
Throughout the years of raising our family, I was often in awe of my wife, Dare, and her willingness to sacrifice for our children. One of our children has special needs and will always require our care, yet Dare steadfastly serves her without complaint or thought of herself.
In looking to the Bible, I see many examples of mothers who also selflessly sacrificed for their children. Jochebed, Moses’ mother, placed her infant son in the Nile River to save him from certain death, and allowed another woman to raise him so that he would be protected. Hannah dedicated her much-longed-for son to God’s service. Naomi served her daughter-in-law faithfully, even after the loss of her husband and sons. And of course, we have the example of Mary, who sacrificed her comfort, stability and reputation to raise the Messiah, even remaining with Him as he suffered and died on the cross.
Our mothers teach us so much about life, from how to tie our shoes, to how to wash our clothes, to how to be kind to others. But maybe one of the character traits we could most benefit from learning from them is the one that so often goes overlooked: their servant’s heart in doing the unglamorous tasks to keep their homes running smoothly. I know my own character, career and relationships flourished when I took a page out of my wife’s and my mother’s book to be faithful in the little things.
We all have selfish desires and intentions, but developing the awareness to not only recognize but overcome them is important to placing the needs of others before your own. One way to do this is to take time to listen and teach. I’ve learned that when I slow down and intentionally devote my time to teaching someone else a skill, much like mothers do with their children, I become less focused on my desires and more focused on helping others. Developing awareness and then posturing your actions to place serving others as a priority will assist in creating a habit of selflessness.
Follow the examples that these biblical women and mothers have set to live out the selfless life we are called to live in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others..”