Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day and I woke up thinking about my mother. I remembered Proverbs 31, “Who can find a virtuous woman?” I can answer that question very quickly. It was my mother!

     Mothers have a special role to play. Often, they get no recognition, but it can be the best job, and it can be the hardest job. It can be tiresome, and it can be refreshing. It can be fulfilling and also worrisome. There is no “one size fits all” to being a mother. There is no instruction manual. However, there is a guide, and it is found in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go. When he is old, he will not depart from it.”

     My mother filled all the roles I have mentioned. I strive to not depart from her teachings. 

     

Opportunity Day -Mother's Day

Today is Mother’s Day! All across the country mothers are being contacted by  their children, being sent flowers, getting special hugs, and children are popping in to see their moms and even take them to church and out to lunch. Children are remembering the mothers who have already passed on and missing their Mom's special touch. 

     Yet, this day is a day similar to all other days. It is an opportunity day! An opportunity to show love to someone, an opportunity to do a good deed and think a good thought. It is an opportunity to be nice and kind. It is an opportunity day to give someone in need a hug.  Most of all, it is an opportunity day to thank Jesus for the blessings of the day, to be hungry for His word, and to be filled by His great love. 

Mother's Day

      Mother's day is a time of remembering our Mothers.  Mine instilled so many good principles of living while teaching me about Christ and faith.  I remember her smile, laughter, and love.  I remember how she embraced God into her life.  
     What we should never forget is that we, as mothers, need to continue to pass on through each generation our  Biblical knowledge and faith so it will go forth and be passed on to future children.  In 2 Timothy 1:5 NIV Paul remembers mothers: "I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois  and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in your also."    
     The role of the mother is important.  We find what should be a description of a good Mom in Psalms.  "She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.  She looketh well to the ways of her household...Her children arise up, and call here blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her."  

     How can we look well to the ways of the household if we do not share Christ and faith with our children?   

Mother's Day

     Mother's day is special for most children especially for those mothers who live by Proverbs 31.   

 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies...She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household...strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come... She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness...Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her...but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised..."

     God bestowed a great responsibility upon the woman.  Not only does she need to change diapers, wipe runny nose, settle sibling disputes, and be prepared for their daily needs, but she needs to raise  her children with a loving and kind heart.  A mother is to "train up the child in the way he should go."  Only by grounding them in the Word of God can she do this.   

     I praise God that my mother was a virtuous woman.  She was honest, loving, and kind.  Her words were filled with Godly wisdom.  She was hard-working, rising early and working into the night to prepare for her children's needs.  She showed respect for all in the household.  My mother feared the Lord, and for that she shall be praised. 

 

Mother's Day

     I am a little late posting about Mother's day, but every day is a day in which a mother's heart is filled to overflowing with pride toward her child, so I do not think it is too late to write a tribute to Mothers.
      As I was reading in Luke about the birth of Jesus, I thought about Mary.  The Bible tells us that all who heard the Shepherd's story about the birth of Jesus was astonished, but His mother,  "Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often."  Isn't that what most mothers do?  We mothers remember the birth of our children.  Their instant presence in birth fills our hearts, and we can only imagine the pain of the death of a child.  In Mary's case, as Jesus was hanging on the cross, I am sure her heart felt as a "sword piercing the soul."
     Further in scripture, I read of the missing twelve-year-old child when Jesus' parents were returning home from the Passover festival.  It took them three days to find Jesus.  When found His mother asked, "Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere."  Again, as a Mother with a missing child, Mary wanted to scold Him, but more than that, she wanted to hug and hold Him close.  During the time Jesus was missing  I am sure Mary was frantic with worry and her heart felt as a "sword piercing the soul."
     When Jesus responded that He was about His father's business, Mary although she did not fully understand, was filled with pride and "kept all these sayings in her heart."   In other words, she was probably like most mothers who keep a scrapbook of happenings and images of our children. 
     Mothers represent love and most want nothing more than to see their children safe, well, and happy and, in turn, most children want the same for their mothers.   
     To take this theme a step further, as much as mothers love their children, Jesus' love is so much greater.  He freely died on the cross for us all, but He made sure his mother was taken care of as he was hanging on the cross, "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother...When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."   
     The link between a Mother and her child is profound, but more than that is the link we have with Jesus when we accept Him as our Savior.  

 

 

    

    

 

Mother's Day Love

     There is no greater joy than having my daughter come to visit on Mother’s Day.  What is so precious is not the gifts or flowers, but the love and fellowship we share together  as we enjoy each other’s company over a simple cup of coffee here in a “Friendly Shade.”  
     Actually this past Sunday was filled with families enjoying the same.  There were so many good posts on Facebook about moms.  Many were loving comments, appreciative comments, and thankful comments. 
     Love was in all those that I read, even though most children would have to admit they really didn’t appreciate their parent’s love until after they matured and left home.  It is then they realized all the rules, all the restrictions, and all the hovering over how they dressed, who they saw, and where they went was an act of lovingly teaching and guiding them toward the path of being able to make wise and mature decisions.   It was a form of protection.  Most would have to admit they never really appreciated the amount of forgiveness bestowed when that child probably “got on the parents nerves" about as much as the parents frustrated the rebellious soon-to-be adult until they had children of their own.
     How tragic it is when we all forget the number of times God has to forgive us when we pull away from his guidance and direction.  He is a Father who wants our companionship.  More than even a parent, God has such an awesome unconditional love regardless of where we have been or what we have done.  
     Let us never fail to realize that there is only one unforgiveable sin, and that is not believing in the “only begotten Son of God”  who died for our sins.  If we believe, God is willing to forgive us of any previous sin we have committed.  By believing, we can move forward, we can grow, and we can find love and be able to show love. 

What Really Matters?

     In church today, the pastor talked about what really matters.  He reminded us that all we have can be placed in a pile and be gone in an instant.  Yet, the love of Jesus endures forever.

     As I sat in “A Friendly Shade” this afternoon and thought about Mother’s Day and the joy a child brings, I know what really matters to a mother.  It is not the gifts they bestow upon us, but it is the time they take out of their busy schedules to visit their mom.   What really matters is the touch of their hand as they slip it, ever so quietly, over yours at church during a brief prayer.  There is so much love in that touch.  What really matters is their companionship, and their loving acceptance of your ways.  What really matters is the well-being of the child.  What really matters is their health and their happiness.   
     Isn’t that also what the Father desires?  He wants to provide “channels of blessings.”  He wants us to be healthy, happy, and protected.  However, the Father also wants our companionship.  He wants us to slip into a loving prayer life with Him.   He wants us to be thankful.  He wants our acceptance and to love His ways. 
     In a nutshell, what really matters is accepting The Father, His salvation plan, and His love.

 Philippians 2:2   Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.