Honour your mother, reap blessings

A mother is the most influential person in the world. It is no wonder that every year, a day in the month of May is set aside to celebrate her. Poet William Ross Wallace once wrote, “The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.” This timeless statement emphasises the powerful role a mother plays in shaping the character of a child and, consequently, the future of society. The values, morals, and habits a mother instils in her children are the very seeds that grow into the next generation’s culture, leadership, and direction.

For Christians, motherhood is regarded as more than a responsibility—it is a sacred ministry. A mother teaches, protects, disciplines, nurtures, advises, advocates, guides, warns, listens, cuddles, hugs, kisses, soothes, treats bruises, nurses, and feeds. The list is truly endless!

So significant is the role of a mother that God included a commandment specifically about honouring her: “Honour your father and mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12). It is the only commandment in the Bible that comes with a promise—long life.

To honour means to give value, importance, and significance. According to American Evangelical Christian author and psychologist James Dobson, one of the leading causes of depression among women is low self-esteem. This often stems from the lack of appreciation and honour they receive—especially from their own children and family.

So how do you honour your mother not just on Mother’s Day, but every day for the rest of your life?

First, as a child, you honour your mother through obedience. This means following her instructions, doing what she asks, and respecting her authority willingly, cheerfully, and immediately. The Bible says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right” (Ephesians 6:1). Obedience is the first and most basic way a child shows honour.

Second, as a teenager or young adult, you honour your mother through respect. This includes giving her the gift of acceptance and forgiveness. “Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 19:3). You didn’t choose your mother, nor did she choose you—but God did. Accepting her means acknowledging that she is part of God’s divine plan for your life. Acceptance doesn’t mean you agree with everything she does or says. Rather, it means you appreciate her humanity and forgive her imperfections.

Third, honour her with your words and your attention. Proverbs 13:1 tells us, “Intelligent children listen to their parents; foolish children do their own thing.” Just because your mother is not perfect does not mean she lacks wisdom. Listening to her shows that you value her insights. Proverbs 23:22 echoes this truth: “Listen to your father who gave you life and do not despise your mother when she is old.”

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Fourth, as an adult, honour your mother with appreciation. Parenting is one of the hardest jobs on earth. It is demanding, exhausting, and expensive. Most mothers have sacrificed their time, careers, comfort, and personal goals to care for their children. Honour your mother by expressing gratitude for those sacrifices.

Many mothers battle self-doubt, feelings of inadequacy, and emotional fatigue. Your appreciation—whether through words, prayers, or actions—can uplift her spirit. Pray for her. Make time for her. And even when you don’t agree with her advice, listen anyway—out of love and courtesy. Proverbs 6:20-23 teaches: “Do not forget your mother’s teaching… her words will lead, protect, and guide you.”

Fifth, honour her by providing for her. Especially in old age or in widowhood, your mother deserves your care and support. The Bible is clear: “Treat older women as you would your mother… Take care of the widow who has no one else to care for her. But if she has children or grandchildren, their first responsibility is to show godliness at home by taking care of them. This is something that pleases God” (1 Timothy 5:2-4). Providing for your mother is both a moral duty and a spiritual calling.

James Dobson once said, “The deepest craving in human nature is the need to be appreciated.” We often chase after what we don’t have, forgetting the treasure we already possess—our mothers.

Jesus himself modelled this on the cross. In his final moments, he honoured his mother Mary by entrusting her to his beloved disciple John. “Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour, that disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:27).

Whatever relationship you have with your mother today—good, strained, or complicated—honour her.

Bishop Muriithi is the Founder & Overseer House of Grace International Ministries