Mother's Day, 2026

Proverbs 31 contains the classic “Excellent Wife” passage, describing what Scripture considers a good wife (Prov 31:10-31). She’s not, frankly, what anybody expected. Oh, sure, lots of her characteristics are expected, but when it describes her providing food and buying fields (Prov 31:16), there is a segment of us that cringe. You know—“A woman’s place is in the home.” Apparently not always the case. When it says she provides “portions for her maidens” (Prov 31:15), it can be jarring for some … the lady of the house feeding the servants. The image isn’t of a quiet slip of a girl, but a strong woman (Prov 31:17) selling merchandise (Prov 31:18) and standing against the elements (Prov 31:21). She doesn’t weaken her husband with her strength (Prov 31:23) and teaches others (Prov 31:26). Not quite the “model woman” in everyone’s mind, but she is in God's mind.

It’s Mother’s Day and I find myself drawn today to the climax of this particular text.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears YHWH is to be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates. (Prov 31:28-31)

I know mothers like that. I have a mother like that. My wife has been a mother like that. Their children rise up and “call her blessed.” These women fear the Lord. They “surpass them all”. I’m particularly interested in the part that says, “A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” because the women I know like that are humble and would be embarrassed. But it’s God who says they should be, so, today, I stand up with others to give the proper praise to the women of this world who are mothers, serving their husbands and children and those around them, with strength and diligence and dignity. For them I say also, “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates” ... especially today.