Maternal love carries a depth that goes beyond the ordinary. From the earliest moments of life in the womb, a bond begins to form quietly and invisibly, yet powerfully. A mother will often sacrifice her own comfort, rest, and even her deepest desires to protect and provide for her child. Love expressed through motherhood is rarely shallow; it is tested in ways that are often unseen.
A very wise king
King Solomon was ancient Israel’s wisest king. Early in his reign, the Lord appeared to him in a dream and invited him to ask for whatever he desired. Rather than wealth, long life, or victory over his enemies, Solomon asked for wisdom and discernment to govern the people well.
Solomon’s request pleased the Lord, so He granted him a wise and discerning heart unlike any king before or after him
Not long after Solomon’s dream encounter with God, two women came before the king, both claiming to be the mother of the same baby boy.
The women lived together in the same house and had both recently given birth. One woman explained that during the night the other mother’s baby had died, and while she slept, the grieving mother exchanged the babies and took the living child for herself. By morning, the dispute had become bitter and heartbreaking, with each woman insisting the living child belonged to her.
It was a deeply complex case. There were no witnesses, no evidence, and no straightforward way to determine the truth.
Mother’s plea before the king
As the argument continued before him, Solomon summoned a sword and commanded someone to split the living child in two, allocating half to each woman.
At once, the genuine mother cried out and pleaded with the king not to harm the child. Instead, she asked the king to give the baby to the other woman if that would spare his life.
The other woman responded differently:
“Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”
1 Kings 3:26, (NIV)
Through their reactions, Solomon discerned the true mother and gave his judgement:
“Give the living baby to the first woman. Do not kill him; she is his mother.”
1 Kings 3:27, (NIV)
What stands out most deeply in this story is the genuine mother’s willingness to surrender her own right to have her child restored to her in order to preserve his life. She revealed her love through sacrifice, not possession.
That is the depth of maternal love on display.
Lives of the two mothers
The two women came from lives that society may have judged harshly, yet Solomon still gave them a fair hearing. He listened carefully, not dismissing them because of their circumstances.
The story highlights that pain, grief, love, and longing transcend personal circumstances. Maternal love can run deep even in lives marked by hardship or brokenness.
The woman who lost her baby was clearly grieving and distressed. Perhaps in her grief and confusion she acted irrationally, overwhelmed by the devastation of losing her child. The story does not hide the depth of human sorrow, nor does it dismiss it lightly.
The pain of losing a child
The story also reminds us how traumatic the loss of a child can be. Behind the conflict stood two grieving women. One grieving the death of her baby, and the other fearing the loss of hers.
Losing a child is deeply painful, and the love a mother carries for her child does not simply disappear with time. If you have experienced the loss of a baby or child, please do not walk through that grief alone. Fathers also feel the deep pain of losing a child, even if they carry or express their sorrow differently. Organisations and support groups exist to help share some of that burden with you.
In the UK, Child Bereavement UK offers support, resources, and information for grieving families. In the United States, St. Louis Children’s Hospital also provides helpful resources, including support organisations, reading materials, and guidance for families experiencing loss. There are other resources available for you to obtain from your health care providers located where you are.
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A prayer for those who have lost a child
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You that You are the giver of life, the ever-present God, the great “I Am.” I am grateful that You provide every good and perfect gift and that Your love safely holds my little one.
Amid grief, sorrow, and unanswered questions, I ask for Your strength to sustain me and Your compassion to surround me. When waves of loss rise suddenly within my heart, help me not to be overcome by despair.
Draw near to me in my pain. Let Your peace gently steady my heart and remind me I am not alone. Where memories bring tears, let Your presence bring comfort. Where grief feels heavy, let Your love carry me.
And may the hope of eternal life and reunion with You bring light into the darkest places of sorrow.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
To every mother, and to all who carry the memory of a child or the longing to hold one in their arms, Happy Mother’s Day.
Joanne Sojinu, Author, A Mother’s Prayers, Week by Week Devotional For Your Unborn Child