Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD will be praised. Give her the reward of her labor and let her works praise her at the city gates.    Proverbs 31:30-31 HCSB

As Mother’s Day approaches, we look forward to a day where our mothers are celebrated. Whether you are a biological mother, an adoptive mother, or just someone who has enjoyed helping to care for other’s children, you must realize that you have an influence on the younger women around you.

Yesterday as we sat in our local coffee shop and did our best to conduct our Bible study amongst all the noise in there, there was a parade of beauty queens who came in donning matching outfits and the sashes from their pageants. They had smiles that seemed to be painted on and non-stop. I couldn’t help but wonder how many of these beautiful young women had true joy in their hearts.

There is nothing wrong with being beautiful. There is nothing wrong with wearing make-up. We should, however, be clothed appropriately. Not all but some of these women, were wearing clothes that showed so much from the bottom, people were distracted from their faces if you know what I mean.

We can strive to be charming and beautiful, but we need to focus on what will last. You can teach a young girl to be charming and how to properly apply make-up but the most important thing you can teach her is to fear the Lord.

Beautiful smiles will all be turned to frowns if we don’t put God first in our lives. We will all face judgment. We, as older Christian women, need to help younger women understand this. It’s not in the clothes you wear. In verse 25, it says strength and honor are her clothing and she can laugh at the time to come.

The woman who fears the Lord dresses in a way to bring Him glory, honor and praise. Colossians 3:12-15 tells us to clothe ourselves in heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, accepting one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And it says above all, we must put on love-the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. We are told to be thankful.

If you are not saved and trying to find your way as a woman in today’s world, find a good church that teaches and preaches the Bible. Find good Christian women to mentor you in your faith to help you grow strong and live your life in a way that pleases the Lord.

If you are saved it is your responsibility to mentor younger women. Titus 2:3-5 which says, “In the same way, older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind and submissive to their husbands so that God’s message will not be slandered.”

When we think about Mother’s Day, we should reflect and appreciate those who have taught us how to live as strong, Christian women. It takes great strength to control oneself and keep oneself pure. It takes self-control where alcohol is concerned. It takes strength and self-control to be submissive to your husband.

If you are a woman who is not yet married, let me say that the balance of the Christian home is very important. The husband is to be the spiritual leader for the family. It is much easier to be submissive to someone who is your spiritual leader and cherishes you as Christ cherished the church. Ephesians 5:25 tells husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church and also gave His life for it.

If you have not married, be careful to marry someone with whom you are equally yoked. 2 Corinthians 6:14 tells us we should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. Trust me, it will save a great deal of heartache to marry a man who shares your love for the Lord.

In closing, I want to say thank you to all the mothers out there raising their children to be Christians. Thanks to you who don’t have biological children but help with other people’s children.

And if you are not yet a mother, find a good Christian woman to teach you how to fear the Lord and be a good Christian wife and mother.

Have a great Mother’s Day!