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Stories of Being a Mother
Motherhood and Identity
The single mom survival kit

“I’m peculiar.”

If she said it once, she said it a million times. That was my mom.  For a number of years, my sister and her son lived with our mom. My nephew always lovingly told her she was “weird”. Her response? “I’m not weird; I’m just peculiar!”

She was correct. As one of God’s treasured possessions she was peculiar. Exodus 19:5a says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people.” (KJV) Other versions define it as “special treasure”, “treasured possession” or something similar.

God separated His people to be a peculiar bunch, to make known His Name, and to be a glory to Him among all people. And that was Mom. Peculiar! What made her that way? She had an uncommon faith and a great strength. Though understandably shaken after her husband died suddenly, her strength bolstered her to continue living.

A godly mother

Mom was always full of grace, class, and love. By today’s standards, she would be considered old-fashioned. Being a fashionista did not enter her mind. She could not have cared less about being “in fashion” but she was always well dressed. She hadn’t changed her hairstyle in maybe fifty years, but it was always perfectly combed.

Everyone who knew her thought her a true lady. Known for her life in Christ, she shared her distinguishing qualities of generosity and caring with everyone. She was always ready to give a bear hug to those who wanted one. Though she suffered with arthritis, back and breathing problems, and years of pain she rarely complained. Mom died two days before her eighty-fourth birthday in 2008.

Unfortunately, not every child is blessed to have a godly mother. Some mothers are negative, abusive, cold, or uncaring. Some even abandon their children. Many adverse circumstances shape a mother’s life and contribute to her behavior. Maybe you have a mom that behaved badly toward you, abandoned you, or did not provide all that you needed from her. Maybe she was or is the farthest thing from the example of a godly mother.

Honour your mother

Scripture says, “Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you.” (Deut. 5:16a, NKJV) I know that in some cases this is extremely difficult to do, but this verse comes with a promise. It goes on to say, “…that your days may be long, and that it may be well with you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.” This promise not only applied to God’s people Israel but applies to us today as well.

If your mom is still alive, honor her this Mother’s Day. Love her. Hug her. If she has hurt you, forgive her. You might just see a change in her. God gave you life through her for a reason. Praise Him for that.

Oh, how I miss my Peculiar Mom. I wish I could tell her once more that I love her and give her one of those bear hugs she loved so much. She left me my spiritual heritage, my Mother’s Day gift…the greatest gift she ever gave me besides physical life.

Don’t miss out on telling your mom that you love her. You never know when it might be your last time to tell her. If you do not have a godly heritage from your mother, be the first to start it for your future family. Live out your life as one whose heart is filled with the love of God.

I pray that you become that Peculiar Mom.

Take the next step:

How to survive Mother’s Day
34 Things I’ve learned about being a Mom
Easy breakfast in bed
Discover more women to look up to in our Women of Faith series

>> Watch part 15 of this series: Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 2

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “Relationships with our children. What I’d like to do for a number of segments is just share with you some things I try to be creative as a father to relate to my children. I’m going to deal with different issues, and phrases, and examples of things you can do. For example, I would always say to my children, “What would you like to do that we have never done before? Is there anything you’d like to do with Dad that you’ve never done before?”

>> Watch part 15 of this series: Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 2

>> Watch part 5 of this series: Family Comes Before Ministry

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “It’s very important that our children understand love, what it means to love and all. And one of the things I’ve struggled with my children is my three daughters and my son would grow up, how do they know if they’re in love? How do they really know if they love someone? And I finally concluded this: That one of the greatest heritages I can leave my children is my love for their mother and her love for me.”

>> Watch part 5 of this series: Family Comes Before Ministry

>> Watch part 14 of this series: Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 1

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “With our children, to pass values on them, we need to be honest about our own past. And you know what I found? The more I could share, not just positive but even negative things out of my past with my children, the greater impact it has in their life. And they can see that their father, their mother is real.”

>> Watch part 14 of this series: Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 1

>> Watch part 9 of this series: Talking to Kids about Ethics

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “One of the most important things we need to pass onto our children are our values. Why are things right, why are things wrong, what do we value or not? And I have learned as a father the best way to do that is through interaction with my children.”

>> Watch part 9 of this series: Talking to Kids about Ethics

>> Watch part 4 of this series: Teaching Kids What Love is About

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “One of the most important things I can do for my children is to love their mother. But I always try and find out from my kids what does love mean to them? How do they know I love their mother?”

>> Watch part 4 of this series: Teaching Kids What Love is About

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

1. How to Be a Hero to Your Kids
2. The Mother & Father Relationship
3. How Do You Show Your Love?
4. Teaching Kids What Love is About
5. Family Comes Before Ministry
6. How to Listen to Your Kids
7. Teaching God’s Truth to Kids
8. Passing on a Parent’s Values
9. Talking to Kids about Ethics
10. Be the Source of Your Kids’ Information
11. Look for Teachable Opportunities
12. Dealing with Kids’ Tough Questions
13. Sharing Your Past with Your Kids
14. Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 1
15. Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 2
16. Asking Your Kids Good Questions Part 3
17. Affirming Your Kids
18. Fun Family Connection Activities
19. Encourage Good Parent Child Communication
20. Find Creative Ways to Connect With Kids

Want to discuss what you learned in this series, or have any questions about what you heard? Contact an online mentor to talk about it, privately & confidentially.

>> Watch part 18 of this series: Fun Family Connection Activities

How can you be a hero to your kids? And why is it so important today? This video series taught by Josh McDowell gives answers, and offers a game plan based on the principles taught by Jesus. Josh is an internationally recognized author and public speaker, and over his long career has addressed more than 10 million young people, giving over 24,000 talks in 118 countries. Here he explores how to be a hero to your children drawing on his own experience as a father to his four children.

In this video, Josh says: “You know one of the best things is to help our children to be able to express appreciation — to be able to have a confidence in saying to someone why you like them or that you love them and why they’re special to you. And in the book of Psalms chapter 139 it says how we are created in the image of God, that he formed us out of the dust of the earth, and God said, “You cannot number my thoughts about you.”"

>> Watch part 18 of this series: Affirming Your Kids