The Beloved Mom
‘Our true identity, the one God has given us, is “Beloved Mom—Child of God.”’
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1a
This verse, reminding us of how deeply the Father loves us, comes from a letter written by the Beloved Disciple. John, who wrote the Gospel by the same name, referred to himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” four separate times. There is some theological debate on the reason John did this, but Francis Chan says, “John understood the depth of God’s love for him—that he could take on the identity of the beloved along with Jesus Himself!” (Chan 65) John made being the Beloved Disciple his IDENTITY.
It wasn’t “the disciple that messes up all the time” or “the disciple that is ok at what he does” or “the disciple that really likes coffee and probably ‘needs’ it to get through his day,” or whatever else we might relate to if we were the ones handing out labels.
In this verse, John has given us an invitation, and for some of us, we could even call it a challenge, to recognize, see, and fully understand the love God has for us, His children. And not only to understand it, but to accept it, abide in it, and become a child of God as our IDENTITY.
We define ourselves by many roles and titles. Mom, wife, friend, sister, daughter, grandma. Maybe we find purpose or identity in the things we do well and our achievements. Or possibly we struggle with negative labels and wrongfully make those lies our identity. The world is full of moms, and we’re all so different. Our personalities and quirks, strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes, are part of who we are. But when we make God’s love our identity, we set ourselves up as children who have a Father that not only loves and cares for them but also provides, fights battles, fills us with His Holy Spirit, and guides our every step. (Just to name a few things He does.)
And just as a reminder, God's love is a lavish gift, freely given. We do not earn it; we just open our hands and hearts to receive it. And John reminds us, in his first letter, that the Father has given us His love. In different translations, we see the words “bestowed upon,” “lavished on,” and “extended to.” Not only was John, along with the other eleven disciples, loved beyond measure by the Father, but that same love is extended to us, lavished on us, and bestowed upon us.
Maybe we’re the moms who have it all together. Maybe we’re the moms hanging on by a bobby pin. Either way, those labels don’t define us in God’s eyes. Francis Chan goes on to say, “And suddenly everything else seemed utterly insignificant in comparison.” (Chan 65) The titles the world has given us are meaningless.
Our true identity, the one God has given us, is “Beloved Mom—Child of God.”
And so we are.
After you read this, spend the rest of your day reminding yourself of your identity. Allow this truth to transform you, especially in your mothering. You are so loved.
*Chan, Francis. Beloved. David C Cook, 2025, p. 65.
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Tuesday:
Read Romans 5:8 - “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
We’ve done nothing to deserve His love. In fact, we were, and are, sinners, and yet Christ went to the cross and died for us so we could spend eternity in heaven with Him. Does that give you the warm fuzzies? God wants YOU to spend eternity with Him because He just loves YOU so much.
Spend some time today in prayer and worship, thanking God and sitting in His love. He just wants to be with you. Use this worship song as a stepping-off point for your prayer: “Only Jesus,” by ICF Worship. Bonus points if you do this while snuggling under a blanket in a cozy spot.
Remember who YOU are, Beloved Mom.
Wednesday:
Read Colossians 3:12-15a - “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts,”
God has a plan for abundant life for us, and it starts with us accepting His love. Remember the quick list I made of things that will happen when we call ourselves children of God? With God’s love we get so much more—compassion, kindness, patience. Forgiveness. Peace. He loves us, we accept that love, and that love pours out onto those around us (our children!) in the form of those things listed above. I don’t know about you, mom friend, but on my hardest days I could use some extra compassion in my heart and flowing out of it.
Today my challenge to you is to go to God and pray this verse over your life. Ask Him to help you put those virtues “on” and to fill you to overflowing with them. Ask Him to guide you in those virtues that are harder for you and show you how to let His peace rule your heart.
Worship: “King of My Heart,” by Bethel Music
Remember who YOU are, Beloved Mom.
Thursday:
Read Jude 1:21 - “Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life.”
#GOALS, am I right? What would change in your life if you prioritized keeping yourself in the love of God? I mean, truly abiding in Him and His love. In the fifteenth chapter of John, the Beloved Disciple wrote one of my favorite passages of scripture. Jesus urges us to abide, or remain, in Him and remain connected to Him as if He were a vine giving us life. John 15:10 says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
Let’s be moms who keep His commandments, obey our Father, and keep ourselves in His love. The reward is abundant life, but more importantly, our reward is Jesus Himself, lavishing His love on us and wanting to spend eternity with us. What is more fulfilling than that?
Remember who YOU are, Beloved Mom.
Written by Cathrine, beloved mom of 4
