There are scores of women who have children of all ages who cannot speak an intelligible word because of their cognitive disabilities. Or their children, like my son, have some language, but those children can never make a spontaneous call of deep affections for their mother.
There will be no handwritten cards, telephone calls or gifts from those children to their mothers today.
Yet, most of those children have mothers who pour their lives into them, sometimes for decades beyond what they anticipated when that little life first starting growing in their bodies.
For all of you moms in that circumstance, know that this proverb is still for you, just not yet!
Her children rise up and call her blessed. Proverbs 31:28
Why do I believe this?
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. Revelation 21:1-7
Those mothers who cling to Jesus for daily strength and as their future hope have a glorious eternity waiting for them.
Someday, I believe my son will tell me things almost too wonderful for me to comprehend about what he experienced in this present age. And I expect one of the things he will talk about is his tender, eternal regard for the woman who cared for him without a thought about what she would receive from him in return. On that day, he will rise and call his mother blessed!
The Works of God 
My wife thanks you John. Perfect for her this morning.
[…] “I love you” from him or her. (If this is true, I hope you will be comforted today by John Knight’s post about his wife and son)God knows. That wasn’t a throw-away phrase I used at the beginning. […]
[…] to hear “I love you” from him or her. (If this is true, I hope you will be comforted today by John Knight’s post about his wife and […]
When Miles was about five, and speech was still a bit odd as he struggled to find the right words to use, I remember one day him telling me as I carried him up the walk from school; “Mommy, I’m glad you’re not dead. Your hair smells.” Translation (I’m projecting): Mommy, I love you! I like the way your hair smells (always had a thing for my hair). Sometimes the love we receive is not in the words, or even the actions of these special children, but is in knowing that underneath we are all ultimately made to love, even if the ability to express it is not there!
thanks. Good to get that reminder on this day.
I remember when my son was in speech therapy for over a year…..still waiting to even hear “mom.” And then in the middle of the grocery store, when I told him I love you, he yelled back, “I love you, MOM!” And said it over and over….I didn’t hush him up at all but hugged him and cried….I will NEVER forget that moment.
What a great post, John. Thank you!
Thank you! My son is 7 and so precious to all who know him, but he has never spoken a word and cannot control his movements. This blog has meant so much to me and my husband! My cousin recently sent this post to me and I needed it, again! I shared it on my blog and sent it to all of our mommy friends with children like mine. It has blessed us all a Mothers day approaches this year. Longing for the day! Thank you again!
[…] to hear “I love you” from him or her. (If this is true, I hope you will be comforted today by John Knight’s post that he posted last year about his wife and […]