Christian Women Clothe Their Children
Proverbs 22:6 (King James Version)
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Spartan Women
The ancient city-state of Sparta is most well known for its military warriors. They had so much faith in their military men that they were the only major city in Ancient Greece to not be surrounded by walls. It was the young men of Sparta that served as the walls, protecting their city and family. What most do not know is that Spartan women played an important role in Spartan society as well. In almost every other society women were treated as second class citizens, but in Sparta they often played important roles because their men were off to war. The most important role that Spartan women played was in raising future Spartan warriors. When a son reached the age of seven to nine years old (first born did not have to go), mothers were the ones that would give their sons away to be trained in the Agoge (military training). The training would last for 12 years. At the end of training it was their mothers that would give the Spartan warriors their shield and say "Spartan warrior, here is your shield. Return with it or return on it." The Spartan shield was so important that if a soldier returned without his shield he would be banished or executed. The shield was important because it was the tool of the classic Spartan “phalanx” which made the Spartan army so successful but it was also symbolic of the Spartan warrior’s dedication to the community. When the Spartan warriors were in the midst of battle they could always look and see their shield and remember the mother that had given it to them, the mother that they were fighting for.
Ephesians 6:16 (King James Version)
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Christian Women
Christianity is most well known for its male leaders, but we often forget that behind a good man is usually a few good woman. I can remember as a young boy my mom would always tell me to “remember who you belonged to” to which I would always reply “You and Jesus.” Even now when I leave out the door to head for college classes she will yell out the door “Remember who you belong to”. You see, at a young age my mother had given me up to be used by God. From the time of birth my mother began the long process of training a Christian man. It is not just the role of Christian women to give their boys away to God but it is also their responsibility to clothe their children. I am obviously not just referring to the physical but the spiritual (even thou my mom still buys most of my clothes). The mother must ever day make sure that the armor of God is on their children every day before they enter into the world. The belt of TRUTH, the breastplate of RIGHTEOUSNESS, sandals of PEACE, helmet of SALVATION, the sword of the SPIRIT, and most importantly the shield of FAITH. All the pieces are essential but it is the shield of faith that mothers have spoken into the lives of their children that will protect them over their lifetime. Of all the pieces of armor, only the shield of faith has the ability to stop the fiery darts that the devil will throw at their children. In the few struggles I have had in my life, it has been the faith of my mother that has sustained me. When I was going to hard times and thought that nobody else knew, I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear my mother praying at the foot of my bed. When I faced peer pressure from my friends I could remember the words my mother had spoken “remember who you belong to”. When I thought I couldn’t find time in the day to pray I would remember waking up to hear my mother praying and singing as she took a shower. It is said that the Spartan Queen Gorgo once spoke out of turn to a Persian emissary and he slapped her. She responded by warning him, “Persian, beware, for it is Spartan women who raise Spartan men.” Over the past few decades being “just a mom” has become a profession looked down upon in society, but let us never forget that it is Christian women who raise Christian men. Mothers clothe your children. There is no calling higher, no career more prestigious, and no action more rewarding. Happy Mother’s Day.
---To my mom
---From your Christian son
