Mothering

A speaker on Sunday spoke about mothering and how it comes before maternity. It is an instinct or built-in quality given to all women whether or not they have children. He used Mother Eve as an example of this.

This got me pondering about the Garden of Eden and the Fall. At times, I have wondered what if Adam and Eve chose not to fall—was it just left to chance that they would eventually fall? I have learned through my Book of Mormon studies that the Lord leaves nothing to chance. It became very clear to me that Eve and her mothering instinct was not just an instinct it was her very nature, it was at the core of who she really is. Her mothering allowed her to see the big picture and influenced her decisions, allowing her to choose to be a mother inspite of the pain and suffering that would come with it. Her name Eve, "the mother of all living" is more than just a title—it describes her perfectly.

I am grateful to mothers and their innate ability to nurture. I am grateful to Mother Eve and her example of motherhood. I am grateful to my mother for her strength and faith. I am grateful to my wife and her perseverance through trial and for her natural ability for empathy.