Five Ways to Biblically Honor Moms This Year

Honoring moms is one way our culture gets it right. Let’s ensure the culture doesn’t outdo the church in showing honor to our mothers this year.

Moms are servants from day one. From the moment of conception and the dawning of a new son or daughter, a mother sacrifices herself for the welfare of her child. That’s gospel-like love – giving up yourself for the life of another. Motherhood is all about serving others. Too often, we take this service for granted – Isn’t giving away their lives just what moms do? Yet the Bible calls us to honor those who are worthy of honor. Consider how the following five Bible verses apply to honoring moms, then look for opportunities to put the following suggestions into practice to encourage the moms of your churches.

Honor moms publicly

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”

(Romans 12:10).

When you consider for a moment how many favorite meals moms make, how many noses they wipe, how many bandages mothers apply, how many hours they give in service to others, and how many tender words they share, there is little chance we will ever outdo them in their service. We can honor them publicly, acknowledge their sacrifice, and thank them for their critical role in passing the gospel baton to the next generation. If your church invites veterans to stand on Veteran’s Day, why not the moms on Mother’s Day? After all, they serve on the front lines of the family.

As you honor moms, be aware of the ladies in your church who are not yet moms but are hoping to conceive. Take a moment to acknowledge and pray for them. While Mother’s Day is a celebration for our moms, it can be one of the most challenging days for those prospective moms who are grieving a miscarriage and for those unable to conceive.

Help the kids honor their moms

“Honor your . . . mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”(Ephesians 6:2–3).

Take time this Sunday School class to have your teachers help their children write a thank-you note for their mom. Provide quality paper and envelopes. If you have time, order preprinted cards with a short but meaningful thank-you preprinted inside. Have the childcare workers take a Polaroid photo of each child giving their biggest smile and include it in the card.

Remind the dads to give away their lives for their bride

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”

(Ephesians 5:25–26)

We are called to help our dads fulfill their biblical role of discipling their wives. Perhaps the most neglected and meaningful role for moms is the biblical discipleship of wives—“washing” them with the Word of God.

Consider providing a Bible study resource for the men to use with their wives as a way to honor the moms in your church this year. While moms appreciate gifts, helping their husbands with discipleship in the home and holding our dads accountable to follow through is at the top of their most meaningful gift list. Then offer the husbands a monthly reminder to lead their wives through the resource you gave them.

Provide a Mother’s Day gift

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” (Hebrews 13:16)

Each Mother’s Day, our church provides a small gift to every mom. For years, we’ve given moms a chocolate-covered pretzel as they exit the church after the service. We also remind the dads to remind their children that the pretzel is for mom. Offer milk chocolate, white chocolate, and dark chocolate varieties.

We’ve also given away single-stem carnations and small succulent plants in past years. More than a dozen years later, some of our moms still have the succulent they received.

Encourage moms throughout the year

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end.” (Hebrews 3:13–14 NIV)

While singling out moms to encourage them on Mother’s Day is appropriate, we are called to encourage one another daily. Consider refurbishing your nursing mother’s room. Organize play days for the moms in your church with small children. Provide a woman’s Bible study and encourage the dads to watch the kids.

Perhaps you are reading this late in the game, with Mother’s Day less than a day away. There is still time to thank the mothers of your church publicly. Then, look ahead in the year and schedule other ways to honor the moms in your church.