Continuing our study of what a Christian mother should be and do, let us take the final reading about love in 1 Corinthians 13.

Endures all things: #5278. hupomeno, hoop-om-en’-o; from G5259 and G3306; to stay under (behind), i.e. remain; fig. to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere.  Do we find ourselves despairing with our children, wondering “what’s the use?” We need to stay behind (stay under) them. We need to remain constant in our work with them, bearing trials with fortitude instead of complaining, fear and despair.  Will we be among the parents who “divorce” our kids and turn them out in the streets because they are inconvenient or because they shame us?

Love never fails: #1601. ekpipto, ek-pip’-to; from G1537 and G4098; to drop away; spec. be driven out of one’s course; fig. to lose, become inefficient.  Can we be tempted to drop away or be driven off course in regards to our love for our child, or our love for the Lord?  Our hope and faith need to keep us constant.  “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58).  We have great challenges in loving our children the way God desires.

As we have seen in our study so far, parents (particularly mothers) are to be true friends to their children by teaching and training them to love God and His ways.  They are to teach them everything pertaining to life and godliness.  Mothers have the opportunity to use the 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 love to train and teach their children and thus themselves.  They also have an obligation to practice mercy as they correct and punish the children for their errors.  We may not be able to take anything but the souls of our children to heaven with us; however, that prize will be the greatest we possess.