Denise Jordan, who founded Father Heart Ministries with her husband James, wrote in her book; ‘The Mother Heart of God’;
“The way that a mother comforts her child is different than the way that a father comforts his child. When a little child, for example, falls over in the garden and runs indoors crying with a grazed knee, the father-if he gets there first-will generally bend down, perhaps give the child a pat on the back and say, “You’re OK. Off you go, run and play. Everything will be fine.” A mother will stoop down and scoop the child into her arms. She will hold her child, soothe them and let them cry. She will comfort them.”
As fathers, I think we can all agree with Denise. Even if you’re not a father and you’re an uncle, the sentiment would be true. But why is that the case? Why do mothers seem to have tremendous capacity to love and to nurture in completely different ways compare to us dads? I don’t quite know the answer, except I know that God created women with this innate ability to love in ways far beyond our own natural capabilities as men, or as fathers.
Scientists argue that ‘mother’s instinct’ is a myth. I am not a scientist so I can’t argue with that. But I know the Father, I know His love, His nature, and His heart for you and me, and what is written in His Word. God created Eve with certain skills to be the best, suitable, helper for Adam. She was created “comparable” (Genesis 2:20) to and equal to, but not subservient to Adam. More specifically, God created Adam and Eve in His likeness; "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” (Genesis 1:26).
What is His likeness? It refers to God’s nature, character, His capacity to love, His framework of justice and morals, and everything that puts us above the animal kingdom. So mothers, were born – rather were created, with this God-likeness nature and character of the Father who, despite our sinful nature, our constant failure and missteps, He still “…longs to gather… [His]… children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings….” (Matthew 23:37).
Just like our mothers, or the mother of our children, no matter the grief we put them through, or our children put their mother through, at the end of the day, their heart longs to affectionately hug their children with warmth and love, wanting to make sure there is a hot plate of food, clean clothes, and a warm bed for them to sleep in. This is the heart of the Father, and our mothers, our wives, and our daughters who have become mothers have it also.
Out of extreme pain, mothers give birth to a child, and in a split moment, love overrides pain at the first sight of her baby. This is Genesis 3 in reality. It is only the living God that can create such a supernatural phenomenon, of going from pain to instant unconditional love.
The heart of a mother in its purest form, is the absolute likeness of the heart of the Father.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers.
I pray that each of us will see a glimpse of God’s heart and love towards us, be reconciled to Him and share His love with those around us.
In His richest blessings
Frank Po Ching