4 Maccabees 15:2-4

Common English Bible

² The mother had two options in front of her: the godly way of living, and saving her seven sons for a while, as the tyrant promised. ³ She preferred the path of respect for God, saving her sons for eternal life, as God promised.

⁴ How can I describe the emotions of parents who love their children? We stamp a remarkable similarity in heart and in appearance on the character of small children. This is especially true of mothers, who have even more sympathy than fathers toward the feelings of their children because they gave birth to them in great pain.