Mother’s Day is a time where our country gets to pause and honor the women who love, nurture, teach, pray, encourage, and quietly carry so much. Some of you are raising children. Some of you are pouring into grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and spiritual sons and daughters. Some of you are mentoring, serving, and leading in ways that are seen. Others are loving faithfully in ways that may never be noticed by many, but are certainly seen by God.
Motherhood and spiritual motherhood are beautiful gifts — but they can also be exhausting. There are seasons when love feels costly, responsibilities feel heavy, and even the good things in life leave us tired. That is why the words of Jesus in John 15:1–8 are so deeply comforting.
You were never meant to be the vine — just stay connected to the One who is.
The Invitation to Remain
Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener." With that picture, He reminds us that fruitfulness does not come from striving harder or trying to be everything for everyone. Fruitfulness comes from staying connected to Him. In a world that wears us out, Jesus invites us to remain in Him so that His life can flow into ours.
One of the repeated words in John 15 is remain. Abide. Stay connected. That is where fruitfulness begins.
A branch does not produce fruit by working harder; it produces fruit by staying attached to the vine. In the same way, we are not meant to carry life in our own strength. We are not the source. Jesus is. He is the life-giving Vine, and we are the branches who receive His life day by day.
This matters for mothers and mentors because it is so easy to slip into doing rather than abiding. We can get caught up in schedules, needs, expectations, and responsibilities until we forget that our first calling is not to produce, but to remain. We cannot pour out well if we are not first being filled.
A Personal Season of Learning to Abide
For me, that truth became very real in a painful and beautiful season. In January 2025, my daughter-in-law was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. As our family walked through that journey, Mike and I believed the Lord wanted us to temporarily move to Austin to help care for their three children. We rented a two-bedroom apartment near their home, and over the next year we spent much of our time caring for our grandchildren.
And honestly, I loved it.
I loved teaching them to cook, getting them ready for school, taking them on hikes, going to the swimming pool, making special breakfasts, and having morning devotions together. One of my favorite parts of the day was hearing the bus pull up and watching them come through the door ready to tell me everything that happened at school.
But I also got to relearn something every mother knows: you can be completely worn out and still want to give your children the very best of yourself.
That is where I found myself clinging to Jesus more than ever.
I did not want "Terster" showing up — that half Teresa, half monster version of me that appears when I am tired and running on empty. So I had to stay close to Jesus every day. I had to lean on Him so I could love well without running dry. That is what God was teaching me: how to experience real fruit when life feels overwhelming.
The Father Prunes Every Fruitful Branch
John 15 also tells us something that is harder, but just as necessary: the Father prunes every fruitful branch so that it will produce more fruit.
Pruning is a gardening word, and I have always loved gardening — especially when I was growing things that would actually feed us. A gardener knows that if a plant is going to thrive, it needs care. Dead leaves must be removed. Weak branches need to be cut back.
I remember dealing with tomato hornworms — those slimy, fat worms that try to eat the leaves and fruit right off the plant. I had to remove them carefully. I also had to clip back overgrowth that blocked the sun. Pruning was never about harming the plant. It was about helping it live and produce fruit.
That is such a picture of what God does in our lives.
God is the Master Gardener. We are the branches. And just as a wise gardener prunes a plant for its good, God prunes us because He loves us and wants us to bear good fruit. He does not prune to punish. He prunes to heal, to grow, and to prepare us for lasting fruit.
When God Prunes Our Deepest Wounds
Sometimes God prunes the places in us that carry deep soul pain. For some, that pain may be fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, or fear of not being enough. In my own life, one of my deepest wounds was fear of rejection. That fear shaped my thinking, my choices, and even my behavior. It led me into people pleasing. I said yes to almost everything because I wanted to feel accepted and loved.
But that pattern did not bring peace. It brought overwhelm, overcommitment, and exhaustion. It also made me less available to my children than I wanted to be.
That was not fruit.
That was strain.
So I began to bring that pain to God honestly. I talked to Him about my overwhelm and my fear. And in that place, I did not hear condemnation. I felt His love. The Holy Spirit gently led me to Scripture so I could memorize truth about who I am in Christ instead of holding onto the lies I had believed for too long.
I began to meditate on God's Word as medicine for my mind, heart, and soul. When I felt rejected, I reminded myself, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine" (Isaiah 43:1). I reminded myself that I am God's treasured possession, His daughter, His chosen one. I replaced the old script with God's truth.
Romans 12:2 says that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. And that is exactly what God began to do in me. As I believed His Word, He began rewiring my thinking and reshaping my heart. He was pruning what had been harming me and growing something healthier in its place.
The Father's pruning is not rejection. It is commitment.
The Fruit That Remains
Jesus says that the one who remains in Him produces much fruit, and that the Father is glorified by this. That means true fruitfulness is not simply about survival. It is about a life that multiplies the life of Christ into others.
For mothers and spiritual mothers, this fruit often shows up in quiet and ordinary ways. It looks like prayer that covers a family. It looks like patience when a child needs another chance. It looks like a warm meal, a listening ear, a faithful example, and a steady testimony of God's goodness.
Fruitful lives do not just help us endure. They help others grow.
A mother who remains in Jesus can shape a home with peace. A grandmother who remains in Jesus can leave a legacy of prayer. A mentor who remains in Jesus can help another woman walk in freedom. A spiritual mother who remains in Jesus can become a source of comfort, wisdom, and encouragement for generations to come.
This is the kind of fruit Jesus is after — love that lasts, faith that multiplies, and character that reflects His heart.
Stay Close to the Vine
So today, if you feel worn out, let Jesus remind you that you are not expected to be the vine. You are simply invited to remain in Him.
If you feel like you are being pruned, trust that the Father is not rejecting you. He is lovingly shaping you.
If you are carrying old wounds, let His truth renew your mind.
If you are pouring into children, grandchildren, or spiritual children, remember that fruit takes time.
And if you feel unseen, know this: the Father sees you. He knows your labor. He knows your love. He knows your tears. And He delights in the fruit that remains.
On this Mother's Day, may we receive afresh the invitation of Jesus: remain in Me, and I in you. Stay close to the Vine. Trust the Gardener. And expect that in due season, fruit will come.
Two Options for you on May 10th.
Join us Sunday, May 10th at Newbreak Scripps Ranch and Newbreak Tierrasanta campuses for services at 9:00am and 10:45am, and 10:00am at Newbreak Ocean Beach, as we honor the women who shape lives in so many ways. Enjoy a fun morning with treats, photo booths, and an encouraging message from our dynamic lineup of speakers. Everyone is welcome!
Will you be our guest on Mother's Day?
If you’re visiting Newbreak for the first time, we’d love to connect with you! When you fill out a Connect Card, we’ll donate a box of diapers in your honor to local outreach partners including CAPS, Birthline, Bridge Builders, and IRC (International Rescue Committee). It’s a simple way your first visit can make an immediate difference for families in need.
About the "I Am" Sermon Series
What if the God you’ve heard about is more personal, more present, and more powerful than you’ve experienced? In this 6-week series, we’ll explore the “I AM” statements found throughout Scripture—words God uses to reveal His character, His heart, and His invitation into relationship. These statements aren’t just descriptions—they’re declarations of who God is for us. He is not distant or abstract. He is near, knowable, and actively at work in our lives. Each week, we’ll uncover a different aspect of His identity: the Bread that satisfies, the Light that reveals, the Shepherd who leads, the Resurrection who brings life, the Way who guides, and the Vine who sustains. Along the way, we’ll wrestle with what it means to move beyond knowing about God to truly knowing Him—personally, deeply, and authentically. This series is an invitation to trade shallow familiarity for real intimacy… to encounter the living God, not as a concept, but as a Person.
About the Author, Teresa Quinn
Teresa Quinn is a Relationship and Leadership Coach with a passion for helping people grow in both their personal and professional lives. With over a decade of coaching experience and more than 40 years in pastoral ministry, Teresa brings a unique blend of practical wisdom, spiritual insight, and real-life leadership experience to every conversation.
In 1986, Teresa helped plant what is now Newbreak Church along with her husband Pastor Mike Quinn, which began with just 13 people and grew into a thriving multi-site church serving communities across San Diego County. Over decades of ministry, she has invested her life in helping people know and follow Jesus, while also mentoring and coaching pastors and leaders to build healthy, life-giving communities. Her influence extends beyond the local church through her involvement in church planting efforts that have helped launch and support thousands of churches both in the U.S. and around the world.
Earlier in her career, Teresa served as a teacher, shaping her ability to communicate clearly, guide growth, and connect with people from all walks of life. She also holds a Master’s degree in Christian Clinical Counseling from Colorado Theological Seminary, equipping her with a strong foundation in emotional health, relational dynamics, and personal transformation.
Today, Teresa continues to speak, coach, and encourage leaders, drawing from decades of experience, a deep love for people, and a passion to see the next generation of leaders rise up and make a lasting impact.