The first Mother’s Day was celebrated in West Virginia in 1912. Mothers were to be recognized as an important part of our culture and lives. The heart of a mother is like a rare jewel. They love their children during the worst and best of times. Yet all mothers are not the same. Author and speaker Patsy Clairmont says, “Normal is just a setting on your clothes dryer.” We are all different. She shared that as women we may “struggle, fail, start over, and celebrate.” But we are mothers who can love unlike any other person.
A familiar mother’s day poem written in the early 1900’s is:
M is for the Many things she gave me,
O means only that she’s growing Old.
T is for the Tears she shed to save me,
H is for her Heart of purest gold.
E is for her Eyes with love light shining,
R means Right and Right she’ll always be.
Put them all together, they spell MOTHER.
God created families and gave mothers a unique place in that unit. Mothers can love, give, cook, clean, wash clothes, put Band-Aids on scrapes, be the first one up in the morning or the last one down at night. Mothers juggle a lot of things including raising children, working at jobs, managing a home, and sometimes finding a little private time.
Each day is a new beginning of what lies before a mother. They have destiny, purpose and the power to do and be all that they are called to be. Mothers need to find the strength to face each day knowing that God loves them.
A passage of scripture that seems perfect for mothers says: “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being likeminded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Philippians 2:1-4*
I believe that children today need the unselfish love of a mother. Mothers need to love their mothers too. Long life is promised to all who show honor to them. “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.” Ephesians 6:1-3*
Mothers make up a crucial part of our lives. So whether it is a Hallmark card, dinner out, hug, or a kiss on the cheek, we should show we care. It is so important to give our love to these dedicated women in our lives and never to take them for granted. “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” 1 John 3:18
I encourage you this Mother’s Day to take time to honor your mother. This Sunday at South Side we will be honoring mothers and the tremendous difference they make in our lives. Worship begins at 10:45 and we would love to have you worship with us this Mother’s Day!
In Christ,
Barry Pettit
Sr. Minister
South Side Church of Christ
www.southsidewch.com
