Today is Mother’s Day—the day we recognize mothers in all their many forms and fashions: Mommy, Madear, Big Momma, Meemaw, Abuela, Oma. We all have one. They come by nature and nurture; by traditional paths and the unconventional byways, no less binding, like that of Leah Peskaledis and Monyay Peskaledis.
Leah, a social case worker, became a first-time mother last week to her client, Monaya, a 19-year-old who spent much of her childhood and all of her teenage years in foster care. “I made her a promise that I would find her an adoptive family. I just didn’t know that I would be the adoptive family,” said Leah.
“Everything is official, the one thing that I wanted since I was a kid has finally come true,” said Monyay.
For many, that dream of a nurturing mother does not come true because not all mothers show themselves motherly. They make the claim in name, but not in deed. So, how can you tell the real mother? That was the challenge of the man considered the wisest man who ever lived—King Solomon. Two mothers came to him, each claiming the same son as theirs. His wisdom was tested when he had to decide who was the real mother in 1st Kings 3:26-27. In this Mother’s Day card, we will see who is “Big Momma.”
First, the real mother that qualifies to be called “Big Momma” may not fit the world’s perception of the honorable mother. The backstory is this: the two mothers lived together. Each had a son, but one of the women accidentally rolled over onher son, killing him. A “Leave it to Beaver-June Cleaver” perception of motherhood, these two mothers were not.
1 Kings 3:16 16 Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him.
These two were prostitutes. So was Rahab of Jericho, but she helped God’s people win Jericho and who was in the family lineage of Jesus. People outside our perception of goodness may have qualities that we should recognize and emulate. The two mothers were single-mothers. Single parent families represent 30% of U.S. households. Yet, being a single mom does not mean that she can’t be a real mom, a good mom, a “Big Momma” worthy of honor.
Second, the real mother that qualifies to be called “Big Momma” has qualities that blesses her children and gives them a chance for a life. Let's look at some from the story.
· The real mother knows her children. (v.21) “But when I examined him carefully in the morning, I realized it was not my baby.” The real mother knows her child: their cries, their weakness; their hurts. Familiarity denotes care.
· The real mother is willing to speak up for her child. (26a) “The real mother spoke up to the king, for her motherly instincts were aroused. When Solomon threatened to cut the living child in two, the real mother spoke up for her child. That’s what real mothers do.
· The real mother is willing to make the toughest sacrifices for her child to live. (26b) “Give her the baby, that will secure that the baby lives. Big Momma is the one that is willing to make the big sacrifice so her children make it: works two jobs, no social life, forfeiting her own ambitions…
With that willingness to give up her son so her son would live, Solomon knew who the real mother was. He recognized motherhood. We should do the same.
Honor the real mothers like her and Leah Peskaledis. You know that Monyay will honor her new "Big Mamma" this Mother’s Day.
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