Mom, You’re a Lot Like Jesus

By Sheila South

A The Kids & Me Contributor

Years ago as Mother’s Day was approaching, I wanted to honor my mom for all that I had seen her do in our lives.  She truly lived a sacrificial life.  Mom worked her job 40 hours a week.  She came home and made a homecooked meal every night.  And when I say ‘every night’, it was every night.  We never ate out or ate fast food or ate freezer dinners.  Mom cooked.  (She still does and she’s ‘bout to be 78.  Those habits formed young stay with you.)  Then she washed the dishes (and that was by hand ‘cause there wasn’t any dishwasher).  She did the grocery shopping. She washed clothes and did the ironing.  (You know there was no such thing as wrinkle-free fabrics back then.)  She vacuumed and dusted.  She washed the car and vacuumed and dusted the car!  She cut the grass.  She pulled the weeds.  She pulled the weeds not only from the ground, but from our hearts.  She tended the garden of our souls and taught us what it means to “consider the needs of others”  Philippians 2:3-4 .  She showed us that right was worth living and that wrong had consequences.  And the next day, and the next week, she did it all all-over-again.  I don’t actually remember seeing her sit down.  There could never be a more genuine example of consistency, faithfulness, and service.

Now if you’re thinking 'what has doing dishes got to do with Jesus?', just stay with me a little while longer…

When Mom was doing those dishes, washing those clothes, cooking that food, she was carrying the weight for others – for us.  She sacrificed her time, her efforts, her own will, and her own desires to meet the needs of her family.  She bore the burden on our behalf.  And that’s exactly how she’s like Jesus...

Jesus did that for all of us.  He carried the weight that was too heavy for us to bear - our own sin. 

Romans 3:23 ... for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

We could not right our broken relationship with God. 

Isaiah 59:2   But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that he will not hear.

Jesus was the only one who could restore us.

1 Peter 1:18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed … 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Jesus put aside His own desires willingly and without bitterness and without resistance to provide for our spiritual healing. 

Matthew 26:38 Then Jesus said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. ... 42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may Your will be done.”

Jesus laid down His life – His sinless and innocent life- as payment for our sin.  He endured death on the cross willingly.  His obedience led to His resurrection and our restoration.

John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; ²⁶ and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

......Well, like I said, I wanted to honor my mom.  I wrote her a poem called “Mom, You’re a Lot Like Jesus”.  I can’t find that poem now, but I’ve got another rendition here to acknowledge all those mommas out there for this Mother’s Day:

Mom, You’re a Lot Like Jesus

You never claimed a throne or crown, 

no cross, no crowd, no grand display— 

yet in the quiet of your giving, 

you show Jesus’s heart in your own way.

You wash the feet no one will see, 

in dishes, laundry, and daily care, 

With a servant’s love in hidden places, 

faithful hands and whispered prayers.

You multiply the quiet things— 

a meal, a hug, a steady hand—

 turning ordinary moments 

into something close to grand.

You carry worries like they’re feathers, 

though I know they must be stone, 

and somehow make the heaviest burdens 

feel less heavy ‘cause I’m not alone.

You meet my doubt with patient truth, 

my wandering with steady light, 

and leave the door of grace wide open 

when I come home late at night.

You’ve borne the weight of others’ needs, 

poured out your strength so I could stand, 

and taught me what redemption looks like 

in the kindness of your hands.

You speak of hope when I feel lost, 

of mercy when I’ve lost my way— 

and like His love that never falters, 

yours is new with every day.

I have seen your miracles— 

in late nights no one knew, 

in sacrifices, small and constant,

in everything you do.

No, you didn’t die to save my soul, 

that gift was His alone to give— 

but through your life, I’ve come to see 

a better picture of how to live.

Tho’ you don’t walk on water, Mom,

you’ve helped me learn to stand. 

And if love is the closest thing to heaven, 

I’ve held it in your hands.

Mom, you’re a lot like Jesus.

A Devotional for the Weary but Faithful Mom

Some days feel heavier than others. The responsibilities, the decisions, the quiet moments when you realize it’s all on your shoulders—it can feel like too much. And yet, you keep going.

Jesus understands that kind of weight.

He didn’t ignore His sorrow—He acknowledged it. When His soul was overwhelmed, He didn’t pretend to be strong; He was honest. You’re allowed to do the same. Your exhaustion, your tears, your questions—they don’t disqualify you. They remind you that you’re carrying something real.

And still, He chose to move forward.

Not because it was easy, but because it was right. Every time you get up when you’re tired, provide when it’s hard, or choose patience when you’re stretched thin—you are walking in that same quiet obedience. It may not feel spiritual, but it is deeply sacred.

Jesus also chose love, even in pain.

That kind of love shows up when you refuse to let bitterness take root, when you protect your child’s heart, when you keep showing up with care even after being hurt. Love like that is strong. Love like that heals.

And through it all, He held onto purpose.

You are not just surviving—you are shaping a life. The small, unseen moments matter more than you know. Every sacrifice, every prayer, every act of perseverance is building something lasting.

So when today feels heavy, remember this:

You can feel the weight and still keep going.

You can be tired and still be faithful.

You can be stretched and still love deeply.

You can struggle and still walk in purpose.

Because mom, you’re a lot like Jesus.