牧者心聲

聖經中記錄了不少母親對家庭和兒女的影響，哈拿以禱告和信心將求來的兒子撒母耳奉獻給神，撒母耳說：「聽命勝於獻祭，順從勝於公羊的脂油」（撒上十五 22），相信也是他在母親身上所看到的見證。聖經對提摩太的母親和外祖母記錄不多，但她們的信心卻影響著提摩太，也從小教導提摩太聖經，以致他雖是信三代，卻在信心和靈性上有好的成長，更加願意在長大後服事神。

但同樣地，聖經也記載了一些不好的母親見證，例如利百加教小兒子雅各用欺騙的方式騙取父親的祝福，結果兒子承受離鄉別井、與家人分開的痛苦，最後更被自己的妻舅欺騙。作為母親，我們給兒女怎樣的榜樣？我們又期望兒女成為怎樣的人？雖然有時在教養青少年子女上，我們都感到措手無策，但我們對神對人的態度，他們都看在眼裡！即使子女已成年，我們仍可把他們交託給神及學習與他們同行。

的確，母親們在今天繁忙的生活中都自顧不暇。於是有人依賴家庭傭工、借助網絡媒體去養育我們的孩子，但這樣做的後果，往往令人傷感。尤其現今的世代科技發達，若不把握機會從小教導孩子（特別在十歲以前），我們在他們人生中發揮影響力的機會，將隨著他們的成長而減少。那麼，你願意為孩子付出多少時間？神教導我們要「教養孩童，使他走當行的道，就是到老他也不偏離。」（箴二十二 6），願我們都珍惜神賜給我們作母親的職份。

我的母親在我出來社會工作後不久信主，為此感謝神！當我蒙召讀神學時，她十分支持我。後來，她以禱告支持我的事奉，又在我女兒年幼時幫忙照顧她，我的母親是我有力的後盾。母親沒有機會讀書，因而並不識字，但她信主後勤力地參加聚會和主日學，每週聚會和學習後回家，她都會温習經文和背金句，因此慢慢因著勤讀聖經而識了許多字，她的榜樣鼓勵著她的主日學同學。母親又會每天祈禱親近神，為家人、團友和牧者代禱，也不吝嗇在任何場合（包括覆診和住院時向醫生及護士）分享神的恩典和福音！她的生命也鼓勵著我，原來長者都可以如此成長，看似卑微軟弱的人，只要甘心樂意，都可以被神使用！

感謝神賜下母親，她們以無盡的愛陪伴我們成長。願我們以行動回應神的愛，珍愛我們的母親，自己也要成為一個稱職的母親，帶給家庭祝福！

  The Bible records many examples of the influence mothers have on their families and children. Hannah, through prayer and faith, dedicated to God Samuel, the son she had prayed for, who later said, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). I believe this was also the testimony he saw in his mother’s life. The Bible does not record much about Timothy’s mother and grandmother, yet their faith influenced Timothy, and they taught him the Scriptures from childhood. As a result, although he was a third-generation believer, he grew well in faith and spiritual maturity and became all the more willing to serve God as he grew older.

  At the same time, the Bible also records some poor examples of motherhood. For instance, Rebekah taught her younger son Jacob to deceive his father to obtain his blessing. As a result, her son endured the pain of leaving his homeland and being separated from his family, and later he himself was deceived by his father-in-law. As mothers, what kind of example are we setting for our children? What kind of people do we hope our children will become? Although there are times when we feel at a loss in raising teenage children, they are watching our attitudes toward God and toward others! Even when our children have become adults, we can still entrust them to God and learn to walk alongside them.

  Indeed, mothers today are often so busy with life that they can hardly attend to themselves. As a result, some rely on domestic helpers, while others turn to online media to help raise their children. Yet the consequences of this are often saddening. Especially in today’s technologically advanced age, if we do not seize the opportunity to teach our children from an early age (particularly before the age of ten), our opportunities to influence their lives will decrease as they grow older. So, how much time are you willing to give to your children? God teaches us, “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). May we all cherish the role of motherhood that God has entrusted to us.

  My mother came to faith not long after I entered the workforce, and for this I thank God! When I was called by God and studied theology, she was very supportive of me. Later, she supported my ministry through prayer, and when my daughter was young, she helped care for her. My mother was a strong support for me. She had no opportunity to receive an education and therefore could not read. However, after coming to faith, she diligently attended gatherings and Sunday School. Every week, after returning home from worship and learning, she would review Scripture passages and memorize Bible verses. Gradually, through her diligence in reading the Bible, she came to recognize many words, and her example encouraged her Sunday School classmates. My mother also prayed daily and drew near to God, interceding for family members, fellowship friends, and pastors. Nor was she hesitant to share God’s grace and the gospel in any setting (including with doctors and nurses during medical appointments and hospital stays)! Her life also encourages me: I came to see that elderly people can grow in faith in this way, and that those who appear humble and weak can still be used by God as long as they are willing!

  Thanks be to God for giving us mothers, who accompany us as we grow with their endless love. May we respond to God’s love through our actions, cherish our mothers, and ourselves become faithful mothers who bring blessing to our families!