Mothers are quite possibly one of the greatest gifts that God has ever given to humankind. It is most often our mothers that teach us to be kind, gentle, and loving. The scriptures lay out direct examples of the kind of women God calls us to be in Proverbs chapter 31 – “She will do good and not evil all the days of her life… She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (KJV)
The standard set before us in Proverbs 31 may sometimes seem like a daunting task for women. Balancing busy work schedules, relationships, and families can take its toll on women – causing them to become exhausted and overwhelmed.
Scripture offers the greatest example of love and patience to mothers through not only the Virtuous Woman in Proverbs 31 but – most importantly – through Jesus in the New Testament. Without his example, we would not know what true love is.
Choosing sacred music for a holiday like Mother’s Day may often be difficult for church music directors. The music for this day should reflect our love and respect for our mothers, but also speak of Christ’s example to us. It may be beneficial to music directors to choose music that can apply to both topics. Songs such as True Wisdom Brings Peace is an excellent example of this. Composed by Allan Robert Petker for accompanied SATB voices, this selection speaks of God’s wisdom that is planted as a seed, and it contains a beautiful prayer for peace that is laced throughout the melody. As the text continues, it speaks about the tenderness of God’s wisdom – “True wisdom is open and kind… for the wisdom of God will listen and hear…” Beautiful poetic lines such as this allow both audience members and singers to recall the tenderness of their mothers and other influential figures in their lives. The versatility of the lyrics makes this selection an excellent choice for Mother’s Day.
True wisdom does indeed bring peace. The wisdom and tenderness of our mothers shape us into the people we become as adults. I recently heard a preacher remind his congregation that God uses his creation to point back to Him. He created mothers as a reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. God is always there for us to pick us up when we fall – to dust off our wounds, send us on our way, and give us hope for a better future. Lifting our voices in song is one of the best ways for us to show thanks to our Creator for his mercy and goodness toward us. There is nothing so sweet to the ear of God than the sound of his children’s praise.
