THE MOTHER -IN-LAWS!
By Bisi Adewale
When your son was getting married to his lovely wife, he promised to marry her for better for worse, till death do them part. Besides, he said that he would forsake all other women and embrace his wife only. One of the women he promised to forsake is you—his mother.
Please help your son to keep his vow to God, step aside completely and let his wife enjoy him. As a mother, never encourage your son to divorce his wife or else you will bring divine curses upon your precious son. (Malachi 2:14-17). God forbids!
In The Time Of Storm
You are expected to stand by your son and his wife. Remember that they are no more two but one. Please treat them as such in times of problem or when they are passing through the storm of life.
For example, you are expected to stand by them in case of barrenness, miscarriage, stillbirth or death of a child. Never encourage your son to take another wife. In times of sickness, the death of one partner, financial problem, you are expected to be their Naomi and give them rest. (Ruth 2:1).
No Daughter-In-Law, No Grandchildren
It amuses me sometimes when I see some mothers-in-law who want grandchildren from their children but they do not want their daughters-in-law. Can you make an omelette without breaking an egg? If you truly want grandchildren, please love your daughters-in-law for she is the goose that lays the golden egg. She needs to be appreciated for giving you grandchildren when you are still alive. She deserves your honour, praise, love and support.
Do Not Seek To Know
You are not expected to know all things that are happening between your son and his wife for it is not your business, ma. Let them live their lives. They are old enough to take care of themselves. Take whatever information they give you with joy and continue to pray for them. If you must correct, please correct in love (Ephesians. 4:15) and do not enforce your wish on them. Remember that they are another family entirely and they are adults.
WHAT GOD EXPECTS
As a mother-in-law, this is what God expects you to do for this young couple.
- Counsel them. Just like Jethro did to Moses, his son-in-law.
- Pray for them and pray with them.
- Give them rest. Ruth 2:1
- Love them equally, don’t be biased toward your son.
- See to it that their home is not broken; they must keep their marriage vow.
- Help them to live a happy and fruitful married life.
- Guide them.
- Encourage them.
- Leave them. Let them cleave to themselves
- Be a true mother to both of them.
- Never take sides with your son whenever they quarrel. Be an impartial judge; be a good mother.
- Treat his wife as your own daughter, make God happy with you.
- God expects you to be what Naomi was to Ruth, a mother, friend, supporter, counsellor etc.
- God expects you to stand by them in times of crisis.
- God wants you to make their home a conducive one.
- God does not want you to live with them. Except it is absolutely necessary, do not live with them, respect yourself and their privacy.
- God commanded that your son should leave you physically, financially, emotionally, mentally, materially, spiritually, socially etc.
- You are expected to be a good friend of the family and not a wife.
- God expects you to ensure that your son cleaves to his wife.
- God expects you to be a mother indeed in everything. Please help God to build that house, do not help the devil to destroy it.
