Doesn’t the Bible elevate the role of mothers?

on Sep 25, 2025

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: I have three precious children who consume my time, and I count every moment a blessing. But it hurts me when friends ridicule me for not having a career to keep me fulfilled. When I try to explain to them what a privilege it is to raise my children and be there for them, their judgment is harsh when they say my children need more than just a mother. Yet, many of my friends who have successful careers and hire nannies as mothers don’t have time for their children. Doesn’t the Bible elevate the role of mothers? – D.M.

A: People should be cautious about insisting that their calling is someone else’s calling. It takes strength not to succumb to peer pressure. We must all listen to what God is “calling” us to do and not mistake His voice for someone else’s.

Alan Redpath, the great preacher and pastor of the Moody Church in Chicago, had a plaque on the wall of his study that said, “Beware of the barrenness of a busy life.” Many people see their activities as the most important, but God’s Word has much to say about godly mothers who have enormous responsibilities in caring for their families. A “mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7, NASB).

Everyone is responsible for their own decisions in life, and mothers, especially, have the opportunity to instill in their children a sense of responsibility. Mothers can greatly influence children’s attitudes – good or bad. They can help build character in their children. Most mothers will admit that motherhood is a full-time job. The influence of a mother upon the lives of her children cannot be measured. They know and absorb her example and attitudes when it comes to questions of honesty, temperance, kindness, and integrity. “Her children rise up and call her blessed” (Proverbs 31:28).

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)