Mothers: A Shared Life…An Everlasting Legacy
Study Guide, May 10, 2026
Pastor Clay Olsen
It’s obvious to see that a Mother’s life is a ‘Shared life.’ Even images from the natural world around us are a testament to that. Yes, the ways that Mothers willingly, patiently, and long sufferingly share their lives with their children are not only admirable, but they are, to be sure…rewardable. Even though, it’s quite a drain on the ‘energy reserves.’ Right Moms?
Motherhood is a calling that comes with its challenges of being demanding yet fulfilling, exhausting yet exhilarating, incessant yet inspiring. And like many things that grow slowly, much of the nurturing and cultivating is out of the limelight or the spotlight. But how great to know that the Scriptures pull back the curtains and show us how God sees it all…how He sees Mothers, and then He shows us how He sees them.
God sees Mothers not only sharing their life with others, but also shaping the lives of others. We think of Timothy. Before Timothy was follower of Christ and a Teacher of others he was a student of his Mother…and even of his Grandmother. 2 Tim. 1:5 – “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.”
You cannot even measure the impact of a Mother, who, as she goes about her ministry of sharing her life in labor, and love, and nurturing of a child, she also shares the message of her Lord with them. And should they, by the power of the Holy Spirit and the willingness of the child to make the Lord of their Mother become the Lord of their own lives…why, that just sets off ripple effects of eternal influence for the Kingdom of God and for rewards for the Mother.
Mark it down: A Mother’s influence is one of the most powerful forces in the world. Even when there may not be public visibility, there are personal victories of all shapes and sizes. A Mother is a shaper of how children think, as well as what they come to love, and even ways they come to see God. Yet remember, Mothers are Sowers and Shapers in helping their children become what they can, but, and take careful note…Mothers are not responsible for who their children become, nor what they did with what was done for them. Each individual person is accountable alone for what they did with the opportunities and the provisions that were given to them by their Parents. Parents are not children’s ‘Makers’, they are their ‘Sowers and Shapers’. Each child is responsible and accountable to the One who is their Maker and their God for the choices they made with the times and talents that were given them.
So again, the fruit of all of that is sown and shaped may not become apparent right away, or even in the immediate times to come, but you can know that whatever grows into ‘wheat’, from those good works that were planted and sown by you, has been due in good portion to you. And, these daily service and sacrifices are all written down by the God who not only knows your story, but is recording your story…a story that will become known for generations to come in the Kingdom that is coming.
Oh yes, what is often called ‘the daily grind’, God sees as ‘the daily good’… ‘daily good works’…the daily good works of daily prayers…and of daily lessons…and of daily meals…and of daily reminders…and of daily rides…and it goes on and on. And, yes, all the dailies can rather ‘do a Mom in’, right Mothers? But God sees the ‘dailies!’
God knows all about the ‘dailies’…‘day by day’…daily watching over us and daily caring for us and even daily carrying us. God has been there and done that! Remember what the Prophet Isaiah wrote about God’s ways with us? Isa. 40:11 “He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in His arms, holding them close to His heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.” And in Isa. 49:15,16 – Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands.”
Yes, God does the dailies for us, for His children, like Mothers do the dailies for their children. But it can be wearisome. That’s why the Scriptures give us this: Gal.6:9,10 –“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” So, this is something: In the doing of good, as in ‘the doing of the dailies’ that we talked about, you can become weary from the doing of it all, but at the same time, there’s a way that you not grow weary in the doing of it all. ‘Weary from’ and ‘weary in’… What’s the difference? Just ask a Mom, and she’ll tell you about it.
The thing is, much of life is not about measuring seeming outward and visible success, but it’s mostly about diligently doing the good works of daily faithfulness and obedience in what God has called us to do…as in Motherhood. Every act of love, every lesson or correction given in patience, every quiet sacrifice whether immediately noticed or appreciated, is all seen by God. And everything that is seen by God is noted by God…recorded by God as noteworthy of compensation and reward.
There may be times when you may feel unnoticed…but you are not unseen. There may be times when you feel ineffective, but you are not unfruitful. Remember, God sees what others overlook. In fact, Mothers, we can only imagine the account of your rewards from the accumulation of all the dailies you have done for the sake of your family and your Heavenly Father.
And even in the doing of all of the heart-felt works that Mothers do, because they have a Mother’s heart they often feel they could have done more…or should have done more…or could have done differently…or should have said differently…and the thoughts go on and on. But right here, Mothers, is where how God sees you is what frees you from what you see or don’t see in you. Remember, your identity is not in your performance with your children, but in your relationship with your own Heavenly Father. It’s not rooted in your parenting skills; it’s rooted in your position in Christ. In Christ you are accepted in the Beloved as one whom God loves. In Christ, you are secure and sealed in as belonging to God. Eph. 1:13,14 – “In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” In Christ, you are complete in your place as a royal daughter of the King. Col. 1:9,10 – “ For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority.” In Christ, you are more significant and special to God on earth than all the stars of heaven. Isa. 43:4 – “…you are precious in My sight, …you are honored and I love you.” And in Christ, you are assured that He who began a good work will continue it all throughout your days until your work on Earth is done. Phil. 1:6 – “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” NASB
This is the identity by which your Heavenly Father sees you, and therefore is the identity in which your Lord wants you to see you…in order to free you for the joys of serving Him by serving your family…knowing that God has only called you to ‘faithfulness’ – not to ‘results.’ Results are God’s…faithfulness is ours. Again, heaven clearly sees what earth overlooks: God sees your faithfulness, God uses your influence, God strengthens your heart, God covers you with grace, and God hears your prayers.
Speaking of which, your prayers matter more than you may know. “The effective prayer of the righteous one avails much.” (James 5:16) Take for example the case of one of the most influential ancient theologians, known as St. Augustine. Behind the scenes of Augustine was a praying Mother by the name of Monica. Her example of prayer, patience, persistence, and piety is beyond remarkable…because her son was a notoriously wayward young man.
Augustine abandoned the faith of his Mother, and pursued what is often called a ‘hedonistic’ lifestyle. Hedonism is defined this way: “Hedonism is the philosophical doctrine and lifestyle prioritizing pleasure as the highest good, ultimate aim, and primary motivator of human action. It emphasizes maximizing enjoyable experiences while minimizing pain. It ranges from pursuing intense sensory pleasures to a refined focus on long-term happiness, tranquility, and intellectual satisfaction.” Sadly, that is a common philosophy for many Americans today.
But on top of that, Augustine also dabbled in Eastern religions and mysterious cultic practices, which, of course, was a great source of grief for Monica. But she never gave up her hope or her intercessory prayer for her son. And in due time, her perseverance broke through and Augustine converted to Christianity. What followed was not only a renewed relationship with his Mother, but also a deep spiritual friendship between mother and son, so much that Augustine frequently praised his Mother for rescuing his perishing life and showing him what a fervent follower of Christ looks like in practice and in prayer.1
So thank you to all praying Mothers. We have been comforted, counseled, corrected, and assisted in our conversion because of the persistent and fervent prayers of Mothers. And know that in your service and sacrifice, there is a place you can find rest. Jesus not only knows what a calling, such as serving others and sharing your life with others, costs you, but He also knows how to lighten your burden and how to refresh your soul. Remember His call? Matt. 11:28-30 – “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
How like our benevolent God to call us first, not to a task, not to a sacrifice, not to a service, but first to Himself. God knows what’s all involved when it comes to parenting like a Mother and Father. So He calls for us to come and commune with Him, to fellowship with Him, to come alongside with Him in His yoke, so that whatever you have to do or hope to do, you can do it together with your Lord and your God. You see, in order for you to do all the rest, you first need to have ‘the rest’ that only comes from Jesus. Yes, there will be days of good circumstances and hard circumstances, but regardless, your ‘rest’ doesn’t come from your circumstances, it comes from Christ alone. It’s not found in better circumstances, it’s found in nearness to Christ Himself.
Plus, here Jesus tells us exactly how He will be with us… ‘for I am gently and humble in heart…’ This is the only place in Scripture where Jesus Christ directly describes His own heart. “Gentle” means approachable, not harsh or severe. “Lowly’, or ‘humble’ means that Jesus is fully accessible, not intimidating. Many fear that coming to Christ will result in condemnation—but He reveals the opposite. His heart is inclined toward the weary, not against them. He delights in helping our imperfect efforts with His perfect resources.
And so, along with ‘Christ’s rest’ comes His resources…like His strength. Remember, it’s no surprise that we are heavy laden. Life has a way of laying heavy loads on each of us…like the heavy loads of expectations, either from others or even from ourselves. There are the heavy loads of pressures…of things to do and things not done. Heavy loads of grief or guilt, whether real or even imagined. Oh yes, we be heavy laden people all right! And Parents are really heavy laden! That’s why we need to stay in the Yoke…in the Yoke of fellowship with Christ and in the counsel of Christ…His Word. Only then do we find the strength to pull the loads we must carry of caring for our families and caring for others around us. For as we fellowship with Christ, His Spirit refills our souls with the power we need to proceed.
Christ is offering shared strength. To take His yoke is to walk in step with Him, to submit to His leadership, and to let Him carry the weight we cannot. It is not the removal of all responsibility, but the transformation of how we bear it. I have often realized that when I sense a restlessness in my soul instead of ‘rest in my soul’, or when I sense that the burdens are heavy laden instead of being ‘light’, that is when I’ve pulled away from the Yoke and was trying to do it on my own. No wonder the ‘rest’ becomes ‘restless’ and the ‘light burden’ becomes ‘heavy laden!’ It’s a call for me to get back into the Yoke with Christ and pull alongside of Him, and not out in front of Him, or apart from Him.
Motherhood is a heavy load. But as you stay in the Yoke with Jesus, He carries your load with you, even carries the lion share of the load. Why not? He is the Lion of Judah, you know! But also, as He carries your load with you, He also fills your soul with other things you need in order to give you ‘rest’ and to ‘lighten your burdens.’ He gives you His peace, that sense that ‘it is well with your soul.’ John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” Even if other things around you are not well at all, it can still be well with your soul and well with your mind and well with your heart.
And when it’s well with your soul, when it’s restful in your mind, when the burden is light in your heart, that’s when you sense the joy of the Lord, which is your strength…your strength for whatever duty calls for in your adventure of Motherhood.
So, Mothers…Jesus is with you, and is alongside of you, and is in you! And we are all thankful for you!
- Casey Chalk, Augustine, thefederalists.com