Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; Ephesians 6:2 

Without a doubt, my favorite memory of mother is her joy-filled life after her new birth in Christ. She drew and heater water to wash our clothes in a wringer washer then hung them on our clothesline, strung between two tall oaks, in our backyard. She cooked in a less than ideal kitchen, scrubbed rough wood floors and often cooked meals from meager staple items. In the midst of her work, she sung throughout the day, as she praised her Savior. This impacted me more than any memory of my childhood.

Our first glimpse of Mary as a mother is at the manger. She wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes, for his security, and laid him in the best bed she could, an animal trough. In less-than-ideal circumstances, she cared for her newborn son. She then witnessed the shepherd’s account of God’s pronouncing light and pondered it in her heart. We see her eight days later, in the temple marveled by the prophesies of Simeon and Anna. Surely Mary’s heart was heavy as she heard a sword would pierce her soul in order to reveal the hearts of many. We find Mary encouraging Jesus to turn water into wine at the wedding in Cana, thus producing his first miracle. Three years later she wept bitterly at the cross while watching her precious son die a brutal death of crucifixion. 

I have only one son. As his mother, I cannot imagine watching him hang on a cross, beaten beyond recognition. Especially if he were innocent of all accusations brought against him. Mary’s pain belonged only to her grieving heart. No other mother in history experienced the pain of this prophesied sword to her soul. She alone birthed and raised God’s only son to see him perish for the sins of all humanity.

In the midst of Jesus’ agony, he saw his mother’s pain. He said to his mother, “Woman behold thy son,” referring to his disciple John. He then said to John, “Behold thy mother!” Jesus took care of his mother before succumbing to his dying breath. He insured she would be cared for.

My mother is such a lovely lady who is now eighty-three years old. She birthed me, cared for me, prayed for me, and loved me. Failure plagues her heart but not mine. I see her for the loving, godly mother who demonstrated what it means to be born-again, the most valuable gift to receive from any mother. Honor your mother and God promises blessings of a good and long life on the earth! Jesus honored his mother with His dying breath, He led by example. 

Ladies and gentlemen let’s honor our mother’s this Mother’s Day and every day of the year!

WORDS OF TRUTH

Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Deuteronomy 5:16

….forsake not the law of thy mother: Proverbs 6: 20b

….and despise not thy mother when she is old. Proverbs 23:22