A Very Special Mother's Day
This Sunday, May 10th, we celebrate Mother’s Day, a day going all the way back to 1914, when President Woodrow Wilson signed a proclamation designating the 2nd Sunday in May as a national holiday to honor mothers. This Mother’s Day will be very different for most families. Instead of doing some of the activities that we generally think of when we celebrate our moms, this day may involve sheltering in place or practicing social distancing. While this Sunday will be an adjustment for many, nonetheless, thoughtful, caring words and acts of kindness can still go a long way to be an encouragement for our moms. I know we are grateful for technology that allows us to connect whether locally or far away with our moms!
Recently, as a nation we have been giving thanks and appreciation for all the essential workers who sacrificially serve us. In a way, shouldn’t we also think of mothers as essential workers? Think of all the ways that they impact their children, grandchildren, and maybe great-grandchildren. I hear from our kids and grandchildren how much they love their mother and grammie. Last Sunday, my wife made a comfort food dish for all the family. It’s one of our family favorites; porkchops and mashed potatoes with mushroom gravy. They were so tender that all that was needed was a fork. My part in the meal was I mashed the potatoes! She arranged for each of the families to come in the afternoon for the pick-up. They all practiced safe social distancing. 😊
Mothers are so deserving of our gratitude, for being a mom requires commitment, selflessness, and unconditional love. A mother’s love so mirrors God’s perfect love for us. It’s been said that Mother’s Day gives us an opportunity to reflect on the love we’ve received since the day we were born and to show our appreciation for the person who has never stopped loving us. It is a day to celebrate all that our mothers have taught and done for us.
“Mothers are so deserving of our gratitude, for being a mom requires commitment, selflessness, and unconditional love. A mother’s love so mirrors God’s perfect love for us.”
Christian author and pastor Greg Laurie said this about moms: “Think of the things we’ve learned from Mom over the years. For instance, our mothers taught us about anticipation when they said to us, ‘Just wait until your father gets home!’ Our moms taught us about logic when they said, ‘Because I said so. That’s why.’ Moms also taught us about prayer when they said, ‘You better pray this will come out of the carpet!’”
Seriously though, over the past few months (in many cases) moms have been pressed and stretched into exhausting schedules as they have juggled the responsibilities of working outside and inside the home. There have been the extra pressures of being a wife, and perhaps a mother who is active in home-schooling, along with the normal day to day responsibilities of managing the home front. I recently heard from some of the “older” dear folks at a retirement community how thankful they are that they passed the age of caring for small children during this quarantine! Some of the mothers I work with in the 911 center are working their 12-hour midnight shifts while managing on a few hours of sleep to then helping the children with their schoolwork. I get exhausted just hearing these stories and know many of you are experiencing similar challenges.
It is not surprising that the Bible contains several verses that highlight how important mothers are to us and the society in general. Solomon hit the nail on the head when he wrote the following:
She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.” (Proverbs 31:27-29)
The writer echoes the husband’s words in the following verse where he states, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”
Jesus also highlighted how special mothers are by the attention he gave to his mother, Mary. While Jesus was on the cross in excruciating pain, he uttered those important and treasured words found in John 19:26-27:
When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.
Even when dying on the cross, Jesus was concerned about his mother. He looked at his best friend John and said (in essence), “Take care of mom!” This is a reminder for us that our mothers are precious gifts from God, and we should value and care for them under all circumstances.
Many reading this have experienced the painful loss of your mother. Therefore, Mother’s Day can be a day that conjures up joy if they are with Christ and sadness as we miss their profound presence.
I was fortunate to have a loving mother. She was an excellent cook and delighted our family when she made her infamous German dish which was simply called, “Sour meat balls.” It was served with mashed potatoes and a mustard and vinegar gravy sauce. I can smell it now. It was to die for!
When I was a young boy, my mom and dad regularly took my sister and me to church. While we attended church on a frequent basis, neither my parents nor my sister and I knew what it meant to be a Christian. My parents thought that good works were most likely the way to go to Heaven. As it would turn out, my sister and I both started attending high school Bible studies and youth groups where we learned that because we were sinners, we needed to have our sins forgiven, and the only way that could be accomplished was through Jesus Christ who paid the penalty for ours sins by dying on the cross. We both became believers during our high school years. As young believers we were enthusiastic to share with our parents about our newfound faith in Christ. As you can imagine, this wasn’t easy for them to hear! While my dad was mostly indifferent, our mom would get quite upset with us! She took exception to the suggestion that she as a religious woman was a lost sinner who needed to believe that Christ died on the cross for her sins!
Over the course of a few years when she was in her mid-50’s while visiting my sister in Oregon, she placed her trust in Jesus Christ. It really was a miracle to see our very proud mother humble herself and acknowledge her need for Jesus. In some very profound ways, she became a changed woman. She loved reading her Bible and highlighted many of her favorite verses. I can recall seeing her consistently studying the bible and reading her Daily Bread devotional. As her eyesight failed over the years, she would find the largest print version, until it became nearly impossible for her to see. She enjoyed cooking for others and attending bible studies with other women. She was not known for being well overall physically, but she exercised her spiritual gift of faith by being a prayer warrior. We knew mom was regularly praying for us and her 7 grandchildren. She passed away in 2010 and it is hard to believe she has been in His presence for nearly 10 earthly years. I cannot wait to see her again!
For those who are fortunate to have your mother living, the Bible teaches that we are to honor her. This means we are to love, cherish, and show high regard to the woman God has chosen to be our mother. It’s been said that no mom is perfect, but that doesn’t change the fact that yours is a gift from God. Melissa Meredith offers the following practical examples on how we can honor our moms:
· Obedience while under her authority. (Ephesians 6:1, Colossians 3:20)
· Willingness to receive her training with humility. (Titus 2:4-5)
· Dependence upon her wisdom and godly counsel. (Proverbs 6:20-23)
· Encouragement and thankfulness for her godly example (Proverbs 31:28-31)
· Dedication to serving her and meeting her practical needs (1 Timothy 5:4)
Thank God and let’s pray for our mothers:
· That they will trust and lean into the Lord during these difficult days.
· For those who are weary and burdened, that they will receive rest and strength.
· For their encouragement while we all wait for a return to “normal” family life.
· For wisdom in how they might influence their families and make an impact for the future.
Wishing a very special Mother’s Day to all our moms at VBC!
Author: Randy White, VBC Elder