I’ve truly lost count of the number of times I’ve given my mum a reason to worry. There was the time my little sister and I decided to hike through China, aged 19 and 18. Or the time I thought toilet cleaner looked like a yummy snack as a toddler (that one earned me a call to Poison Control). I’ve lost track of how many times I lost track of time—like the night I casually wandered home at 3 a.m. The motorbike crash that landed me in the hospital. Then there was the time I moved five hours away… right at the start of COVID. Or when I thought it would be fun to go ice climbing on an active volcano in Iceland. (Sorry, Mum.)
There was also the time my dad, brimming with adventure and possibly lacking a bit of judgment, took my sister and me rock climbing when we were just 3 and 4 years old. And that quiet but unforgettable moment when I got my licence and didn’t need her in the passenger seat anymore. And the list goes on, yet through it all—every hair-raising adventure, every questionable decision—she kept showing up. With love. With wisdom. With a calm strength that let me grow, fail, try again, and become who I am. She didn’t always fix things, but she never stopped showing up. And now, more than ever, I see that for what it was: a quiet, courageous kind of love.
As we get ready to celebrate Mother’s Day next week, I’ve been thinking about one particular mum in the Bible: Jochebed, the mother of Moses. Her story isn’t long, but it’s unforgettable. At a time when her baby boy’s life was in danger, she made an incredibly brave choice—she placed him in a basket, placed the basket in a river, and let go of him, trusting that he would be safe.
Her story makes me think about the courage that mums (and carers, aunties, nanas, and other mother-figures) show every single day. Whether it’s sending kids off on their first day of prep, waiting in the passenger seat while a teenager learns to drive, or smiling at the door after a long day, because their child needs to feel safe—these are quiet, everyday acts of bravery. And like Jochebed, I pray that you too know that you don’t need to face these moments alone. God’s words in Isaiah 41:10 offer comfort and strength for every fearful heart:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Jochebed didn’t just let go of Moses into a river—she let him go into the hands of a God who is strong, present, and always at work. Moses didn’t just survive; he became one of the greatest leaders in history. And it all began with a mum who trusted that God was bigger than her fear.
This Mother’s Day, whether you’re a parent, a grandparent, a teacher, or someone helping raise little people—I hope Jochebed’s story reminds you that you don’t carry your load alone. God is with you in every drop-off, every late-night worry, every moment of letting go. His strength is enough when yours feels like it’s running out.
To all the mums in our school community, thank you. You are doing a brave and beautiful job! Just remember, you don’t have to do it alone!
Jacqueline Newell, College Pastor