Another job description God gives to you as a mother is Teacher.
You are the best teacher of your children. From the day your baby is born you begin teaching. You begin singing, cooing, and talking to your baby. You soon begin teaching them all about their body. You play with their little toes and say “toes.” You touch their little nose and say, “nose.” You can’t help yourself. It is inherit within you to teach your child about the world.
Why is that suddenly when your child gets to the age to read and learn from books you think are no longer good enough to teach them? That’s a lie. You are the best teacher. You were born to teach.
I love the words of G. K. Chesterton: ““How could it be a grand thing to tell someone else’s child about one thing and a small thing to tell one's own child about the universe?
Proverbs 1:8 (RSV) says: “Reject not your mother’s teaching.” Do you notice it doesn’t say the school teacher’s teaching? It doesn’t even say the Sunday school teacher’s teaching. It says the MOTHER’S teaching.
Again, in Proverbs 6:20 (RSV) it states: “My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your MOTHER’S TEACHING. Bind them upon your heart always; tie them about your neck. When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.”
Your teaching is the most important of all. They may forget the school teacher’s teaching, but they must never forget or forsake your teaching. It is your teaching that keeps them through life. It is your teaching that watches over them. It is your teaching that keeps them on the path of righteousness.
Never underestimate the power of your teaching, mother. Of course, your greatest teaching is by example. You prepare them to face life as they see how you face your problems and challenges. They observe how you stand fast and trust God rather than falling into a pit of despair.
You prepare your children to enjoy a good marriage by the way they behold your loving relationship with your husband. They notice your submissive heart. They see how you delight in him. They watch how you talk sweetly to him.
You prepare them for motherhood as they see your love for babies and family life. You teach them how to manage a home. In fact, you can’t help teaching them all your life (although when they become older they start teaching you!).
Embrace your teaching role. It is who you are as a mother. And forget the lies of the enemy. You are the best.
Love from Nancy Campbell
Painting by JESSIE WILCOX SMITH