Years ago, during our time with the brethren in Fayetteville, GA, one of the men in our church family spent time with our children and helped each of them build their own birdhouses. For nearly 20 years now we have watched mother birds nesting and tenderly sheltering their young chicks beneath their wings. That beautiful scene is exactly the picture the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote to the church at Thessalonica: “But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother who cherishes her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).
Paul was describing his warm, protective, self-giving care for new believers. He didn’t just preach to them — he cherished them.
This same tender image first appears in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 22:6-7, God commanded Israel not to take a mother bird along with her chicks or eggs, but to let her go free. Why? “That it may go well with you, and that you may live long.” The Greek word used for the mother bird’s action is thalpō — to warm, to cherish, and to tenderly hover over with protective love.
Jesus Himself nourishes and cherishes His church (Ephesians 5:29). Paul nurtured the Thessalonians like a mother. And today, every believer is called to nurture one another in the same way.
We see this throughout the New Testament in the many “one another” commands: build one another up, bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another daily, and be kind and tenderhearted toward one another.
In the family of God, no one should face life’s difficulties alone. Every one of us is called to be both a receiver and a giver of this cherishing care. When we offer a listening ear, a timely word, prayer, practical help, or simply faithful presence, we reflect the heart of Christ.
On this Mother’s Day, we not only celebrate the wonderful mom’s in our church family, but are reminded of our calling to spread our wings a little and tenderly cherish one another as Paul.
May our family in Christ be known as a place where people are genuinely sheltered and strengthened in the love of Christ.
Paul was describing his warm, protective, self-giving care for new believers. He didn’t just preach to them — he cherished them.
This same tender image first appears in the Old Testament. In Deuteronomy 22:6-7, God commanded Israel not to take a mother bird along with her chicks or eggs, but to let her go free. Why? “That it may go well with you, and that you may live long.” The Greek word used for the mother bird’s action is thalpō — to warm, to cherish, and to tenderly hover over with protective love.
Jesus Himself nourishes and cherishes His church (Ephesians 5:29). Paul nurtured the Thessalonians like a mother. And today, every believer is called to nurture one another in the same way.
We see this throughout the New Testament in the many “one another” commands: build one another up, bear one another’s burdens, encourage one another daily, and be kind and tenderhearted toward one another.
In the family of God, no one should face life’s difficulties alone. Every one of us is called to be both a receiver and a giver of this cherishing care. When we offer a listening ear, a timely word, prayer, practical help, or simply faithful presence, we reflect the heart of Christ.
On this Mother’s Day, we not only celebrate the wonderful mom’s in our church family, but are reminded of our calling to spread our wings a little and tenderly cherish one another as Paul.
May our family in Christ be known as a place where people are genuinely sheltered and strengthened in the love of Christ.
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