Some Bible women were brilliant. Some were particularly brave. A few, such as Jezebel and Athaliah and Herodias, were audaciously badly-behaved. All were bold. Some had children. Some didn’t. Yet all of their actions have influenced generations of daughters in the faith. Voices such as those of Deborah, Rahab and Mary of Bethany paint a clear picture of what it means to be a mother in the Bible, regardless of offspring. DNA? Of course, DNA is one piece of motherhood, and yearning for children is a substantial theme in the Bible. But being a foremother of the faith is more than DNA.
From “Rediscovering Motherhood” by Lindsay Hardin Freeman, in the May 2016 issue of Gather magazine. Today we remember John the Baptist whose mother was very brave indeed.