Most people would risk their own lives to defend their mother from harm. But what about motherhood? Would we defend the design God intended for mothers with the same resolve?

What is happening in our world?

I overheard a bright young teenage girl (from a troubled family) say, “I’m too smart (gifted) to stay home and raise children”. We might expect such a foolish remark to come from a young person bereft of experience and insight. Trouble is, she was taught this viewpoint at school.

I later visited with a college student whose class had been told by their professor how ridiculous it was to expect intelligent, capable women to stay home with their children. Really? As if intelligence and competence were unnecessary to motherhood! But then how many of us have heard the question often asked of young mothers, “Do you work (i.e., at a “real” job), or stay at home with the kids?” It is difficult to miss the implication here.

On the surface first of all, is the idea that all you need to raise a child is someone to function as a babysitter, and secondly, that a woman with intelligence, skill and savvy, if you will, should not be wasted on raising children.

At best, this is insanity. At worst, it is the devil’s lie. Don’t forget that Jesus’ apostle Paul warned of “teachings from demons” in 1st Timothy 4:1. I’d say the above sentiments qualify.

It is historically true that the hands that rock the cradles rule the world. That being the case, don’t we need the best hands rocking those cradles?

What priorities would Jesus set for young mothers today? How about teaching older ladies to encourage the young women to love their husbands, and children; to be sensible, pure, workers at home, to be kind and in subjection to their own husbands so that the word of God would not be dishonored (Titus 2:3-5)?

Can you imagine a high school teacher or college professor or a television talk show host giving the above advice today?

Motherhood at its core, is self-sacrificing love. Such love is also the core of Christianity. Motherhood, therefore, is too precious, too necessary for the health and well-being of humanity, physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually to allow it to be redefined by the world.