Ahead of Mother’s Day, Lucy Shares the Meaning of Being a ‘Spiritual Mum’

“Wow, that’s really a very daunting description of myself.”

Lucy is a mother of two university-aged daughters but a friend calls her a “spiritual mother”.

Speaking with Ben McEachen on Hope Mornings ahead of Mother’s Day, Lucy wrestled with the weight of being invested in someone else’s journey of faith.

“I think what my friend might be meaning is that I’ve been a spiritual help in her life,” Lucy said.

“We have this relationship in which I’m the mature Christian, nurturing her as the younger Christian.

“That’s where the motherhood comes in.”

Lucy said the relationship developed naturally rather than through any deliberate mentoring plan.

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“I met up with my friend and she was a young Christian,” she said.

“I was just taking the role of an older Christian, nurturing someone who’s younger spiritually in their faith, towards maturity.

“I did Bible studies with her, I invited her to church, helped her in a few ways.

“Over the years, she’s managed to keep in contact.

We meet with each other and pray with each other.”

Lucy believed many women in churches already are quietly playing similar roles.

“A church is a family,” she said.

“We have the opportunity to exercise this wonderful privilege of sharing our faith with all sorts of people.”

“It may take the form of sharing the gospel, or doing Bible studies with them, or praying with them, or just being an encourager in different parts of their lives.”

Importantly, Lucy stressed this kind of care is not reserved for “special spiritual experts”. All followers of Jesus are called to support and encourage others in their faith.

At the same time, Lucy was honest about the emotional weight that can come with deeply investing in another person’s spiritual growth.

“I think it’s a very weighty responsibility when you think of motherhood as a long-term, lifelong commitment,” she said.

“When we first started out, she would call me a ‘spiritual mum’ because I was helping her to grow up in her faith.

“But over the years, just like in my relationship with my girls … I don’t treat her like an infant.

“I think she’s grown up and we’ve reached this parity where we are sisters in Christ.”

Lucy encouraged Christians to prayerfully notice people around them who may benefit from support, friendship or someone willing to listen.

“There could be someone who would benefit from this gospel, Bible input as well as sharing of your life.

“It could be something formal, doing Bible study, or informal – praying with someone after church, talking to them during important moments in their lives.”

She also advised any “spiritual mothers” to not feel pressured to become everything to one person.

“We all have limited capacity for that intense relationship,” she said.

“I think the role of spiritual parenting is something that we can share in the church as a community, as a family.

“Don’t be scared.

“Ultimately just remember that God is the one who’s in charge.

Listen to the full conversation in the player above.

This article was researched and prepared by Hope 103.2 staff writers, with assistance from AI in its presentation. Final review and fact-checking was undertaken by our Digital Team prior to publication.

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