Happy
Mother’s Day this Sunday! Our mom’s teach us many
things. I’ll name a few. Maybe you can remember a few lessons you
learned from your mother too.
Moms teach the meaning of
anticipation - Just wait until your daddy gets home.
She teaches us the lesson of giving
and receiving – “You’re going to get it when we get home.”
She teaches logic – “If you fall and
break your neck, you’re not going with me to the store.”
We learn medical science – “If you
keep crossing your eyes they’re going to freeze that way.”
She teaches us to pray – “You had
better pray that this comes out of the carpet.”
She teaches us humor – “When the
lawn mower cuts off your foot, don’t come running to me.”
She teaches about adulthood – “If
you don’t eat your vegetables, you won’t grow up.
She teaches genetics – “You’re just
like your father.”
She reminds us of our roots – “Do
you think you were born in a barn?”
She teaches us the wisdom of the
ages – “When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.”
Did you
mother ever say, “Wash your hands young man?”
Now this request is more complicated to a boy than you might think. Even if we said we did, there was usually an
“inspection” and a “do-over.” Mothers
require the entire hand to be clean and not just the palms. As I recall, my mom later had me return to
the wash room to learn a lesson about drying “clean” hands on the freshly
washed towel rather than “dirty” hands.
She also stated that actually using soap made the entire process of
hand-washing easier and better.
I remember
my mom saying, “Think before you speak.
Once a word has been spoken, though you might apologize over and over
again, you can never take it back.” Oh,
how true this is! How difficult this is
to accomplish even today. Have you ever
gotten thinking first and speaking second out of order? So have I.
And afterwards though we might say, “I am so sorry” we find that the
word spoken ahead of thought echoes still.
We can do better. I can do
better. I will do better.
I remember
my mom saying, “Son, guard your emotions.”
These words she often spoke to me as I walked out the door on my way to
pick up my date for the evening. Isn’t
it amazing how a mother knows exactly what to say at just the right time? Her words echoed in my head for the rest of
the evening. They still do. I’m glad.
This Sunday (Mother's Day - 13th) we will
focus on Jesus and His mother. Jesus’ mother is not to be worshipped. Some people do. They shouldn't. Our worship is reserved only for God. We can learn from Jesus’
mother about how to love our children.
At the afternoon hour (1:30) we will take a look at just how much Jesus
loved His mother.
