Motherhood is defined in the English dictionary as the state of being a mother, that is maternity. Motherhood is also the qualities or spirit of a mother.

Mother, on the other hand, is defined as a female parent; a female who has given birth to offspring; a female substituting in the function of a mother.

A woman does not have to give birth to a child to be a mother. Some ladies gave birth to children, but their characteristics do not qualify them to be a mother.

Therefore, let us examine six qualities that a woman should possess to be qualified as a mother.

These qualities are the spirit that God placed within her from before the foundation of the earth.

1. Love

A mother needs to have the love of God in her heart to love her children.

She has to love her children unconditionally regardless of whether or not she gave birth to them.

A mother’s love is long-suffering and kind. Her love does not envy. Her love is neither boastful nor proud.

A mother’s love does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked and thinks no evil.

A mother’s love rejoices in the truth and not in iniquity. A mother’s love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things.

A mother’s love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13)

2. Discernment

The phrase, “woman intuition” means having special instinct or perception about the truth. 

Although Rahab was a prostitute with no relationship with God she was able to recognize that the spies served the Almighty God who would conquer her country. 

Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men: “I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. (Joshua 2: 8-9)

3. Kindness

A mother has a caring and generous nature within her. She is not only kind to her family but she gives to the poor and needy.

A gracious woman retains honor, but ruthless men retain riches. (Proverbs 11:16)

4. Wise

Mothers are designed to be the homemaker. She is the stabilizing force in her household. God has empowered mothers with the wisdom to accomplish this great task.

The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands. (Proverbs 14:1)

5. Determination

Mothers want the best for herself and family and are determined to ensure that they received the best.

Naomi was destitute. She lost her husband and two sons. She felt that the best solution for her daughters-in-law was to allow them to return home.

However, one of her daughter-in-law, Ruth, was determined to remain with her. Ruth saw the potential to have a better life by serving the God of her mother-in-law.

 But Ruth said: “Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord, do to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.”

 When she saw that she was determined to go with her, she stopped speaking to her. (Ruth 1:16-18)

6. Patience

Every mother has to be empowered with an abundance of patience to deal with the challenges of raising her children.

A mother’s faith is tried constantly and this help to develop her patience.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Additional references: Ruth 1