Mother’s love

by Rapha Abreu·May 08, 2025·3 min read

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In the month of May, we celebrate Mother’s Day in some countries.

Everywhere in the world, there is a day set aside to remind us once again of the importance of maternal love in our lives. This love may come from a biological mother, a grandmother who raised us, a family member, or a friend who has walked with us through every stage of life, loving us unconditionally.

But the greatest source where we also find this love is in God, who taught Mary about this feeling and surrender through Jesus.

First Ministry

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!”
Isaiah 49:15

The Bible describes a mother’s love as a reflection of God’s own care and compassion. The depth of maternal love is something almost unbreakable. It is intimate, constant, and sacrificial.

A mother’s love is present not only in moments of joy but also in times of pain. When Mary saw Jesus crucified, she surely remembered the boy she once held in her arms, fed, taught, and watched grow. A mother’s heart holds memories that remain forever. John 19:25 records, “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother”—a powerful image of the silent pain and unwavering loyalty of a love without limits.

Motherhood, according to God’s heart, is more than a biological role: it is a ministry of surrender and compassion. A mother’s love is a living testimony of God’s tenderness toward us. The first ministry in our lives is family.

Called to Love

“Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you.”
1 Thessalonians 2:7

Not everyone has biological children, and some may not have grown up with their biological mother, but God sends people into our lives to love and care for us, and for us to love in return. We are called to express a love similar to a mother’s—a love that protects, sustains, endures, and perseveres. Maternal love is a way to display the character of Christ.

To love like a mother is to serve humbly, even without recognition. It means doing without expecting in return, caring even when it hurts, and staying even when all seems lost. Just as Mary stayed by Jesus until the end, we are called to love with that same loyalty—even in pain, loss, and silent sacrifice.

This kind of love is not natural to the selfish human heart; it is the result of the Holy Spirit’s presence within us. When we allow God to transform our hearts, we can love others with the same constant and compassionate care we’ve learned by witnessing a mother’s love for her child—and Christ’s love for the Church.

Recognizing the Love

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12

In a rushed world, we often forget to honor those who’ve been with us from our first steps. To honor is not just to obey—it is to recognize, value, and give thanks for the love invested in us throughout life.

Our mother—the one who raised us and walked with us—loved us before we could give anything in return. She cared for our pain, comforted us in fear, and taught us lessons we still carry. Just as Mary looked upon her son with love from his first steps to His most painful moment on the cross, many mothers today continue to love even as their children grow, stray, or make mistakes.

Their arms are always open to receive, embrace, and comfort.

To recognize our mother’s love is also to see God’s love reflected in simple gestures. May we not only recognize this love but also express our gratitude while we still have the opportunity—celebrating the love that has shaped our story from the very beginning.