Note 10 at 1 Th. 2:7: Paul likens his care for the Thessalonians to that of a mother tenderly caring for her child.

"Cherish" is a word that means to hold dear, to treat with affection and tenderness, to keep fondly in mind, and to appreciate. It is used of the husband-wife relationship in Ephesians 5:28-29, of Abishag the Shunamite "taking care of" king David's needs (1 Ki. 1:1-4), a mother's tender care of her child (1 Th. 2:7), and a man taking care of his own body (Eph. 5:29).

In verse 11 Paul will change the metaphor of a mother's care to that of a father's care (see note 14 at v. 11). It was Paul's love as a parent that motivated his care of the Thessalonians. This is in stark contrast to the way many ministers view the people to which they minister today.