Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural

Hear the words of Barbara Kingsolver, who in her wisdom declared: “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” In this utterance she reveals a truth known since the dawn of humankind—that within the mother’s heart lies a force beyond measure, a power that defies even the boundaries of flesh, of time, and of reason itself. The ancients called it sacred, for it seemed to come from beyond the mortal realm. It is the strength that moves a woman to endure hunger so her child may eat, to face danger so her child may live, to challenge even death itself with the fire of her love.

The ancients often spoke of natural laws—the order of the stars, the pull of the earth, the unchanging cycle of birth and decay. Yet again and again they told stories of mothers who seemed to bend these very laws with their devotion. In myth, Alcestis gave her life in place of her husband, but even Hades, lord of death, was moved by her sacrifice and restored her to the world. In history, countless mothers have crossed deserts, endured famine, and braved war, surviving what should have been impossible because the strength of motherhood burned brighter than the limits of the body.

Consider the story of the Jewish mother during the Maccabean revolt, recorded in ancient texts. She watched as her seven sons were martyred for their faith, yet she did not yield to despair. Instead, she encouraged them to hold fast, showing courage that astonished even the persecutors. Her body was frail, yet her strength as a mother defied terror, pain, and the instinct to flee. In that moment, her spirit proved greater than the natural law of fear itself.

History also bears witness in the life of Harriet Tubman. Though not only a mother to her own kin but to an entire people, she risked her life again and again to lead others out of bondage. Stricken with illness, hunted by enemies, threatened with death, she pressed forward. The strength of motherhood within her—the fierce drive to protect, to guide, to nurture—enabled her to endure where many stronger in body would have fallen. Her life is living proof that love can overturn the limits of flesh and defy the so-called boundaries of nature.

The meaning of Kingsolver’s words is this: while the laws of the earth may say that a person can go no further, endure no more, lift no heavier burden, the mother’s love unlocks hidden strength. It is not bound by calculation, nor explained by science alone. It is the mystery of the heart, the sacred fire of devotion, the force that turns ordinary women into warriors, guardians, and saints. Indeed, when life demands the impossible, it is often the mother who answers with possibility.

The lesson, O listener, is both simple and profound. Do not underestimate the power of love, especially the love of a mother. Recognize it as one of the greatest forces known to humankind, capable of bending what seems unbendable. To mothers, trust in this strength within you—it will carry you further than you know. To children, honor it in your mothers, for they have borne more for you than the world will ever record.

Practical actions are these: show reverence for the sacrifices your mother has made, not only in words but in deeds. Live lives worthy of her strength. Support mothers in your communities, for in uplifting them, you uplift the very foundation of society. And above all, when faced with your own trials, remember the example of motherhood—that love can summon courage, and devotion can surpass even the boundaries of natural laws.

Thus, let Kingsolver’s words be inscribed upon the scroll of memory: “Sometimes the strength of motherhood is greater than natural laws.” For in them we are reminded that the truest power on earth is not brute force nor rigid law, but love that endures beyond reason—love that conquers fear, defies despair, and triumphs over all.