Last Updated on January 10, 2024 by Heather Mandracchia
In the ‘God Is Like A Mother Hen’ Scripture from the Bible, Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 offer up a simple but powerful metaphor for motherhood.
Today, I want to take a deep look into a metaphor from the Bible that’s surprisingly relevant to our lives as mothers.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
In Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 NIV above (identical verses which appear twice), Jesus describes his desire to protect Jerusalem as a hen would gather her baby chicks under her wings. This image, simple yet profound, offers us a lens to view our roles as mothers.
The Mother Hen: A Symbol of Protection and Care
The ‘God is like a mother hen’ scripture from the Bible is all about protection and unconditional love. It’s a role we embody daily as we watch over our children, guiding, and nurturing them. The mother hen is a symbol of not just physical safety, but emotional and spiritual security.
It’s a powerful reminder of our responsibility as mothers to create a safe, loving environment where our children can thrive.
Balancing Protection with Independence
While protection is key, so is fostering independence. The mother hen’s care is not about over-shielding; it’s about preparing her chicks to eventually venture out into the world on their own.
This reflects our efforts to teach our kids self-reliance, critical thinking, and the courage to question and learn. It’s about striking a balance between keeping them close and letting them figure things out for themselves.
Emotional and Spiritual Nourishment
Being a mother hen extends beyond physical needs. It encompasses listening, empathizing, and being emotionally available.
As we create a holistic, healthy environment, we also work to address their mental and emotional health. This demonstrates that love has several parts in order to become deeply nurturing.
The Power of Community
The ‘God is like a mother hen’ scripture from the Bible also speaks to the importance of community. Just as a hen is part of a flock, mothers thrive in supportive networks – commonly called ‘our village’.
Sharing experience, failure, advice, and triumph strengthens us all, creating a supportive, nurturing community very much like a flock of hens.
Unconditional Love and Acceptance
The ‘God is like a mother hen’ scripture from the Bible also teaches us about unconditional love and acceptance, especially vital when we choose paths less traveled.
This really hits home with our own adventure back to traditional roots and homesteading at Natural Home Apothecary. Embracing the old-school, self-reliant way of life, and swimming against the mainstream tide of today’s world.
It’s about making choices that might not be the norm, but doing it with a heart and mind as welcoming as a mother hen with her little chicks.
Creating a Haven in a Chaotic World
It is my opinion that our role as mother hens gains even more significance in today’s fast-paced world. With more uncertainty, tragedy, medication and food failures, larger system issues, we as simple mothers have to work even harder to create that peaceful, stable, safe haven for our kids.
This may tangibly look like focusing on nutritious meals, handcrafted home remedies, homeschooling, and lots of quality family time.
Embracing the Mother Hen Within
As we each navigate motherhood, let’s draw inspiration from the ‘God is like a mother hen’ scripture from the Bible in Matthew 23:37 and Luke 3:34. This verse serves as a reminder of our multifaceted role – providing physical shelter, emotional guidance, and spiritual support.
Our efforts lay the foundation for a nurturing, loving space where our children can grow, learn, and eventually spread their wings.
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