Greetings,

We are mostly used to hearing patriarchal language describe God.  Father, Son and Spirit is used much more than Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer.  Yet throughout scripture we do find images of God as Mother if we know where to look.  As we approach Mother’s Day, and remember the women who are important in our lives, let us remind ourselves of some of those lesser-known mothering descriptions of God.

In Isaiah 42:14 God is birth-giver, crying out in labour, and later in Isaiah 66:13 God is seen as a comforting mother.  In Hosea 11:4 God is imaged as nursing infants, and in Deuteronomy 32:11 as an eagle, hovering over her young and protecting them when trouble comes.

These mothering images of God are not contained only in the Old Testament.  In Matthew 23:37-39 we find Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem, and hear him wishing he could gather people together just as a hen gathers her chicks, keep them close and sheltered.

These images are nurturing and it is comforting to think of God being like a calm, compassionate mother.  However God is also depicted as a ferocious mother-bear (Hosea 13:8a), profoundly attached to her cubs and responding with strength and power when they are taken from her.

This Mother’s Day, let us remember and honour all those women who have nurtured and cared for us; those who have birthed new ideas within us and fed us with their wisdom; those who have provided places of safety and protection; and those whose strength and power have stood with us when we have need it.

Blessings – Heather (she/her).