Were you in the room when your bride gave birth to your child(ren)? Our first born entered this world in distress because she had gotten wrapped up in the umbilical cord. After a long pregnancy and several hours in delivery, there was a new level of concern as to whether the baby was going to be okay. She was fine but it was like God was telling us to never take His miracle of child-birth, and the opportunity to be a mom and a dad, for granted.

On Mother’s Day the tendency is to put the focus on our moms, and rightly so. But as dads, it is very important to focus on the mother of our children as well. I encourage you to treat May as Mother’s Day Month for the mother of your children. Do something each week to support, encourage, recognize and honor her as the mom her children need.

Has not the one God made you? You belong to Him in body and spirit. And what does the one God seek? Godly offspring. So be on your guard, and do not be unfaithful to the wife of your youth. – Malachi 2:15. The husband-wife, dad-mom relationships are foundational for raising Godly offspring. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. – Ephesians 5:25-27. Across this Mother’s Day month, show your bride how you are learning to love to a whole new level, selflessly and sacrificially. Paul goes on to write, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church. – Ephesians 5:31-32. In the marriage as a husband and in the home as a dad, the charge is to be more Christ-like – to love as He loved, serve as He served and lead as He led. May this Mother’s Day month be the start of a new level of Christ-likeness being realized in your marriage and home.
Tips for Mother’s Day Month:

• Prepare a meal of her choosing each week of May and clean the kitchen afterward;
• Surprise her with a date-night in the middle of the week;
• Engage the kids to clean house as mom enjoys a day doing what she wants to do;
• Get a special gift that compliments her love language;
• Encourage the kids, young and old, to write a love note to her, and lead by example.

Prayer guide: Thank You for the bride You blessed me with. She is a wonderful wife and mother that I too often take for granted. Forgive me. As I honor my mother, help me also focus on honoring the mother of our children. The years move quickly as we do parenting together. Help me slow down not just because of a Hallmark card day, but to encourage and honor my bride for the most important role she has, to help raise Godly offspring. That is the dad You call me to be, and that’s the dad my kids need to see. Amen.

A faithful father supports, encourages and honors the mother of their children.