Learning From Your Mother

Mothers are our first teachers.  We start learning language from our mothers before we are even born.  As we grow older, we continue to learn from our mothers.  We learn our language, social behaviors, manners, and so much more.  How we interact with others is often heavily influenced by how we interact with our mothers.  Even as we head into adulthood, we can continue to learn from our mothers.

Some mothers are positive examples for us to emulate.  We can learn cooking and housekeeping skills from an expert.  My own mother is incredibly talented in art and design.  In fact, she created both the pattern and the dress I wore for my Junior Prom!  My two-year-old's favorite stuffed animal was knitted by my mom.  She is also the artist behind most of my home decor.  As a mother, I am trying to teach my children how to complete basic household tasks such as dishes, laundry, cooking, and the like.  Even moms who may not be the greatest at something like cooking, for example, can still teach their children the basics so they are able to feed themselves and their family when they are grown.  Every mother should be striving to teach their children the necessary life skills.  You can even go above and beyond basic skills and teach other information as well.  I am a strong advocate for homeschooling.  While not everyone feels able or equipped to homeschool, I believe it is an excellent option for most.  As mothers become grandmothers they can continue to teach.  They can offer parenting advice to their own children as well as help with the education of their grandchildren.  Even when our mothers are no longer physically capable of doing the things they used to, we can learn from their life stories and how they handled the situations they faced throughout their years.

Other mothers, unfortunately, serve as negative examples.  Sometimes our strained relationship with our mother teaches us what not to do as an adult.  I know several people who may not know particular skills, such as money management, but they are clear on what they should not do.  Everyone makes mistakes, and it is good to learn from the mistakes of others.  We can turn even difficult situations into learning opportunities.  Even mothers who may not have been the best housekeepers, cooks, or caregivers have something they can teach us.  Maybe they have another skill they teach us.  Maybe they can tell us about some of their life experiences so we can better understand the decisions they made and what we could do differently.  Reaching out and seeking to mend a broken relationship with our mother may help both of us learn more about relationships, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

We can learn from mothers that have not given birth to us as well.  In some circumstances, there are adoptive mothers, step-mothers, or mothers-in-law in our life that also serve as teachers in our lives.  Older ladies in our church can serve as spiritual mothers who can guide us and help us grow in our faith and serve as positive role models.  As Christians, we should seek out an older woman to mentor us and teach us.  We should also be looking for a younger woman that we can mentor as well.  Even if you do not have children of your own, you can serve as a mother and mentor to the young ladies in your church.  You can teach not only Biblical truths but also practical skills as well.

If you have a godly mother from whom you can learn, thank the Lord for that blessing, and thank your mom as well!  If you do not, learn as best as you can from your mom, and seek out godly older women in your church who can serve as mentors and spiritual mothers to help you learn and grow as a woman of God.  This life was not meant to be lived in isolation.  You do not have to feel overwhelmed by circumstances that you do not know how to handle.  Seek out advice from someone older who has faced similar circumstances and can offer wisdom and that 20/20 hindsight.  Learn and grow from the knowledge and experience of the mothers that have gone before you and seek to pass that on to the next generation as well.