Honoring Maternal Love: A Reflection on God's Care

Summary

Mother’s Day is a time to honor the often unseen, sacrificial work of mothers in all its forms—biological, adoptive, step, and spiritual. These daily acts of care, though sometimes menial or hidden, are not lost or insignificant. Instead, they are woven into the fabric of loving-kindness that shapes families and the world. The vocation of motherhood is sacramental, meaning it reveals something essential about the nature of God’s love. While God is often addressed as Father, scripture makes clear that both male and female together reflect the image of God. God is not limited by gender, and the maternal qualities of God are vital for us to see and receive.

One of the most profound gifts of maternal love is attentiveness. Like a mother eagle hovering over her young, God surrounds, protects, and delights in us. This fierce and tender care meets a deep human longing for safety and belonging. Even in our moments of greatest vulnerability, such as when we are sick, afraid, or facing loss, the attentive love of a mother—and of God—helps us find ourselves and experience comfort.

God’s maternal love is also constant and unwavering. Through the prophet Isaiah, God assures us that even if a mother could forget her child, God will never forget us. This steadfast love forms the foundation for secure attachment, which is essential for resilience, risk-taking, and flourishing. The absence of such love can leave us feeling orphaned, but God’s promise is to be present, compassionate, and never-failing, even when we feel lost or unworthy.

Yet, there is a danger in taking this love for granted. The story of Israel warns us against forgetting the God who gave us birth. Humility comes from remembering that we are not self-made; we are carried, nurtured, and loved before we could ever contribute or repay. This remembrance is the foundation for a life of gratitude, humility, and character.

For those who have experienced pain or loss around motherhood, or for mothers who feel they have fallen short, God’s motherly love is a healing presence. The imperfect love we experience in this world points us to the perfect, sacramental love of God. By opening our hearts to this love, we find the courage, strength, and resilience to face every challenge, knowing we are cherished and never forgotten.

Key Takeaways

- The Hidden Power of Small Acts
Every unseen act of care—like changing a diaper or offering comfort in the night—carries eternal significance. These small sacrifices are not wasted; they are the building blocks of a culture of compassion and selfless love that shapes lives and communities. From the perspective of eternity, even the most menial tasks can be upstream from the transformation of hearts and the world. [05:42]

- God’s Maternal Attentiveness
God’s love is revealed in the attentive, nurturing care often embodied by mothers. Like a mother eagle hovering over her young, God surrounds us, protects us, and delights in us, especially in our most vulnerable moments. This attentiveness meets our deepest longing for safety and belonging, helping us find ourselves when we feel lost or afraid. [10:44]

- The Foundation of Constancy
A mother’s constant presence forms the foundation for secure attachment, which is essential for human flourishing. God’s love is even more constant than the most devoted mother’s, providing a stable ground for us to take risks, recover from failure, and endure suffering. In seasons of confusion or pain, God’s unwavering love assures us that we are never forgotten, even when we feel orphaned or unworthy. [15:15]

- The Danger of Forgetfulness
There is a real spiritual danger in taking God’s nurturing love for granted, as Israel did when they forgot the God who gave them birth. Humility and gratitude grow when we remember that we are not self-made; we are carried, nurtured, and loved before we could ever give anything in return. This remembrance is the only sure foundation for a life of character, resilience, and goodness. [19:27]

- Healing for Imperfect Love
Many experience pain from imperfect or absent motherly love, and many mothers carry the burden of feeling they have not done enough. God’s motherly love meets us in these places of pain, offering perfect understanding, compassion, and healing. The sacramental love we see in mothers, however flawed, points us to the greater reality of God’s love, which alone can satisfy our deepest longings and transform our lives. [21:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Honoring All Mothers
[03:10] - A Blessing for Hidden Work
[05:42] - The Eternal Value of Small Sacrifices
[06:58] - Motherhood as a Sacramental Vocation
[08:14] - The Image of God: Beyond Gender
[09:42] - God’s Attentive, Maternal Love
[10:44] - The Longing for Maternal Care
[12:40] - Personal Stories of Comfort
[13:46] - God’s Constant, Unfailing Love
[15:15] - The Foundation of Secure Attachment
[18:06] - The Danger of Taking Love for Granted
[19:27] - Remembering Who Bore Us
[21:02] - The Call to Remembrance and Humility
[21:46] - Healing for Imperfect Motherhood
[22:51] - Receiving God’s Transforming Love
[23:26] - Closing Blessing and Sending

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Maternal Love of God

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### Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 (ESV)
> “He found him in a desert land,
> and in the howling waste of the wilderness;
> he encircled him, he cared for him,
> he kept him as the apple of his eye.
> Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
> that flutters over its young,
> spreading out its wings, catching them,
> bearing them on its pinions,
> the LORD alone guided him,
> no foreign god was with him.”

Isaiah 49:15 (ESV)
> “Can a woman forget her nursing child,
> that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
> Even these may forget,
> yet I will not forget you.”

Deuteronomy 32:18 (ESV)
> “You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you,
> and you forgot the God who gave you birth.”

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### Observation Questions

1. In Deuteronomy 32:10-12, what images are used to describe God’s care for Israel? How do these images help us understand God’s relationship with his people? [09:42]
2. According to Isaiah 49:15, how does God compare his love and memory of his people to that of a mother for her child? [13:46]
3. What does Deuteronomy 32:18 warn about, and what does it say the people of Israel forgot? [18:06]
4. The sermon described the “hidden” or “unseen” work of mothers. What are some examples given, and why are these acts described as significant? [05:42]

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### Interpretation Questions

1. The sermon says that the vocation of motherhood is “sacramental”—it reveals something about God’s love. In what ways do the Bible passages and the sermon suggest that God’s love is both fierce and tender, like a mother’s? [06:58]
2. Why is “attentiveness” described as one of the most profound gifts of maternal love, and how does this reflect God’s own attentiveness to us? [10:44]
3. The sermon talks about the danger of taking God’s nurturing love for granted. What are some reasons people might forget or overlook God’s care, and what are the consequences of this forgetfulness? [18:06]
4. How does the experience of imperfect or absent motherly love in our lives point us toward the perfect, healing love of God? [21:46]

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon highlights the “hidden power of small acts” like changing a diaper or comforting a child at night. Can you think of a small, unseen act of care you’ve received or given that made a difference? How might God see and value these acts, even if others don’t? [05:42]
2. When have you felt a deep longing for safety, comfort, or belonging—like the “attentive care” described in the sermon? How did God or someone else meet you in that place? [10:44]
3. The sermon says that God’s love is constant and unwavering, even more so than the most devoted mother’s. Are there times when you have doubted God’s presence or love? What helped you remember or experience God’s constancy? [13:46]
4. Have you ever found yourself taking God’s love for granted, or forgetting that you are “carried, nurtured, and loved” before you could ever give anything in return? What helps you stay humble and grateful? [19:27]
5. For those who have experienced pain or loss around motherhood, or for mothers who feel they have fallen short, the sermon says God’s motherly love is a healing presence. What would it look like for you to open your heart to God’s healing love in those places of pain or regret? [21:46]
6. The sermon calls us to remember that we are not self-made, but carried and loved. How might this truth change the way you see yourself, your family, or your community? [21:02]
7. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience the kind of attentive, compassionate love described in the sermon? What is one practical way you could show that love this week? [22:51]

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Devotional

Day 1: God’s Love Is Both Fatherly and Motherly

God’s love is not limited by human categories of gender; both men and women are created in God’s image, and scripture uses both fatherly and motherly imagery to reveal the fullness of God’s character. God is profoundly personal, longing to receive and give love, and mothers uniquely reflect aspects of God’s attentive, nurturing, and sacrificial love. When we honor the maternal qualities in God, we gain a clearer, more complete understanding of the divine love that sustains us all. [08:14]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV)
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Reflection: In what ways have you experienced or witnessed God’s love through both masculine and feminine qualities, and how might recognizing this fuller image of God change the way you relate to Him and to others today?


Day 2: God’s Attentive, Maternal Care

God’s love is fiercely attentive, like a mother who finds and protects her vulnerable child in the wilderness, surrounding, watching over, and delighting in them. This maternal attentiveness is a deep human longing, and God meets it by encircling us with care, carrying us through danger, and making us the apple of His eye. Even in our most desperate moments, God’s presence is near, offering the comfort and security we crave. [10:44]

Deuteronomy 32:10-12 (NLT)
He found them in a desert land, in an empty, howling wasteland. He surrounded them and watched over them; he guarded them as he would guard his own eyes. Like an eagle that rouses her chicks and hovers over her young, so he spread his wings to take them up and carried them safely on his pinions. The Lord alone guided them; they followed no foreign gods.

Reflection: When have you most needed attentive care, and how can you open your heart today to receive God’s watchful, nurturing presence in your life?


Day 3: God’s Love Is Constant and Unfailing

God’s love is as constant and unwavering as a mother’s bond with her child, providing a secure foundation for our flourishing, resilience, and healing. Even when we feel abandoned, fail, or wander far from Him, God assures us that He will never forget us, offering compassion and presence that never waver. This steadfast love is the anchor that allows us to take risks, recover from setbacks, and move through suffering with hope. [15:15]

Isaiah 49:15 (ESV)
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel most insecure or alone, and how might you let God’s constant, motherly love become your foundation for courage and healing today?


Day 4: Remembering the God Who Bore Us

We are called to remember that we are not self-made; our very existence and every good thing in our lives are gifts from the God who bore us, nurtured us, and loved us before we could ever give anything in return. Forgetting this leads to pride and ingratitude, but humility and character are built on the foundation of recognizing our dependence on God’s sacrificial, motherly love. This remembrance grounds us in gratitude and shapes us into people of goodness and resilience. [21:02]

Deuteronomy 32:18 (ESV)
You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you, and you forgot the God who gave you birth.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been “unmindful” of God’s nurturing presence, and how can you practice gratitude and remembrance today?


Day 5: Opening Our Eyes to the Sacramental Beauty of Motherly Love

Motherly love in the world, though imperfect, is a sacramental sign pointing us to the greater reality of God’s perfect, nurturing love—a love that alone can satisfy our deepest longings for attentiveness and constancy. By opening our eyes to this love and receiving it as a gift, we are transformed, strengthened, and equipped with courage and resilience for every challenge. No matter where we are on our journey, God’s mothering love is available to comfort, heal, and empower us. [22:51]

Psalm 131:2 (ESV)
But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Reflection: How can you intentionally open your awareness to God’s nurturing love today, allowing it to calm, strengthen, and transform you in the midst of your current circumstances?

Quotes

To say that the vocation of motherhood is sacramental is to say that mothers are telling us something about who God is. They're sort of like a lens that bring into clear focus an aspect of God's love that we may not otherwise see, but that we desperately need to see if we're going to live fully human and flourishing lives. [00:07:08] (22 seconds)  #MotherhoodReflectsDivineLove Edit Clip

When we call God our father, it is not a declaration that God is a man, but that God is profoundly personal. There are some church cultures that only refer to God as creator, sustainer, and redeemer in an effort to avoid gendered language, and it is true that God can accurately be described as creator, sustainer, and redeemer. Those are beautiful qualities, but so much is lost when we describe God in impersonal adjectives. No, no. Ultimately, God is a person who loves, who loves deeply, who longs to receive love from us, as scripture makes generous use of both fatherly and motherly images to elucidate the character and the love of God. [00:08:41] (51 seconds)  #GodIsPersonalLove Edit Clip

There is a deep human longing for this kind of fierce and tender, attentive care. Maybe you remember the story a handful of years ago about how when George Floyd was dying in Minnesota, he cried out for his mother. There he was in the street, a police officer's knee and the back of his neck, and he cried out for his mother. Terrence Klein, a Catholic priest, said this. Speaking of George Floyd's mother, he says Miss Sissy had died two years earlier, but anyone who has read close accounts of battles knows that young men often die calling upon their mothers. Can you imagine that? Truth be told, they're calling out upon God. As their worlds close in upon them, they cry out the name of the presence that first opened the worlds to them, the smile, the embrace, the voice they learned to call mama. [00:11:07] (61 seconds)  #LongingForMotherlyPresence Edit Clip

He's saying to them and to us even in times of darkness, even in times of discipline, even when you have failed, even when you have failed greatly, never ever forget that God's love is constant. How do we know that? Well we know that because God is just like a mother who has fed her baby at her breast, who has given her own self to her child, who has formed what we call in modern psychology a secure bond of attachment. And that's so important for our flourishing. [00:14:52] (46 seconds)  #SecureAttachmentForFlourishing Edit Clip

A mother's ever present comfort and presence is a foundation foundation for our secure attachment, which is foundational for all flourishing. If we want to be people who take risks, if we want to be people who bounce back from failure, if we want to be people who can move through seasons of suffering, we can't do it on our own. We need a foundation of secure attachment to a love that is more stable than our wavering hearts and we have that in the presence of God. [00:15:39] (39 seconds)  #LoveHealsOrphanedHearts Edit Clip

She was telling me that children who have not been picked up who have not been touched don't grow up physically or emotionally they don't grow up in resilience and so part of the ministry was just to be in those orphanages and to hold the children to touch them to help feed them and she was saying that oftentimes even belatedly these children would begin to grow again because of the presence of love that is stable and constant and I think all of this is a great parable of humanity because rich or poor when times get tough when we're in seasons of confusion so often we feel orphaned we wonder if we've done something wrong we fear that God has left us we feel absent of compassion and touch and we regularly need to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit in our time of confusion the voice of the Holy Spirit saying I will never forget you, even when you have failed, even when you've taken the wrong turn. I love you like a mother. [00:16:53] (76 seconds)  #TakingGod’sLoveForGranted Edit Clip

Motherly love in the world, however imperfect, is sacramental. It's a sign that points to a greater reality if we open our eyes to it. So open your eyes to the love of God. It is God's love and God's love alone that can satisfy our heart's deepest longing for attentiveness, for constancy. [00:22:02] (25 seconds)  #StrengthThroughGod’sMaternalCare Edit Clip

``There is a God who seats you in the wilderness, who watches over you when you feel attacked, who looks upon you with delight in your ugliest moments, who gives to you suffering love. And if you open your awareness to that love, if you drink it in like a baby drinks in mother's milk, your life will be transformed. And you will become strong and have courage and resilience for every challenge before you. May that be true for you today in increasing abundance. [00:22:36] (37 seconds) Edit Clip