Heart Throb: Are Mothers Smart?

By Jackie Wahl (January 2004)

Mothers are just the smartest people in the world! Now, gentlemen, don't let that statement raise the hair on the back of your neck! Just listen and ponder. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary lists the attributes of one who is smart: Brisk, spirited, bright, knowledgeable, shrewd, witty, clever, pert, neat and trim.

Who is more shrewd than that coupon-packing grocery shopper? Who is more brisk than the one who can turn the preschooler's playroom back into a living room before the unexpected caller can get from the car to the front door? Who is more clever than the one who can have dinner in the crock-pot, all toys in hiding and husband and three-plus children dressed in the best and out the front door by nine o'clock on Sunday morning? Oh, yes, she is neat and trim, too. But the smartest of all is the one who from a heart of scriptural knowledge is daily weaving God's Word in to the lives of her children.

One such mother relates how she read Proverbs 1:8-9 to her six-year old daughter, ". . . hear the instruction of they father, and forsake not the law of they mother: for they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about they neck." After the reading she explained how pretty a little girl is when she obeys her parents. The thought of an obedience necklace followed. When the little girl obeyed, she would be complimented on how nice her obedience necklace looked, and the mother was rewarded with a beaming smile. Just a simple imaginary game, but such an effective way of illustrating Bible truth.

A mother remembers her teen years when she would return home from a date. The covers of her bed were always turned down and pinned to the pillow would be a scripture verse in her mother's handwriting. Only the daughter's behavior would determine if the verse would be a comfort or a rebuke.

An idea yet untried is printed here for the taking. In the summer when activities need to be planned, children may earn the right to be a blessing to someone else. The motive of this idea is to reach the truth of our laying our rewards at Jesus' feet (Rev. 4:10). A verse is selected for the week, written out on a slip of paper (one for each child), and placed in a conspicuous place such as the bathroom mirror. When a child has recited his verse successfully, his initials are put on the paper and it is placed in a box or jar. The "be a blessing"activity has already been decided upon. It might be a visit to someone who is sick or a shut-in, maybe even to a stranger in the nursing home who has no family. I wonder if a faithful Sunday School teacher has ever had a visit from one of the pupils, just to say thank you. Is there a baby that could be kept for a few hours so the mother could do her shopping? (This would be a treat for those children who haven't had babies around for a while.) At the end of the week the box of verses is emptied and only those who have a slip with their initials on it may participate in the activity. The greatest reward should be the privilege of serving another.

Children need to be able to look back on their spiritual training with fondness and appreciation. We sometimes hear of children who have rebelled at the training of the parents, but a parent that can enter into the play world of a child and use it for lasting purpose will surely feel rewarded in the days to come.

Jesus recognized the wonderful attributes of children when they came to Him. Blessing the children as is recorded in the Gospels showed Him acting as a Jewish father. Being creative in finding interesting ways to teach biblical truths takes time, but we must remember Jesus took time when He acted as a father to children who were attracted to Him.

Yes, I stand by my statement. Mothers are smart and particularly so when their motives are based on Scripture.