Mother’s Day Love

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson designated the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day. He wrote that the United States flag should be displayed “as a public expression of our love and reverence for the mothers of our country.” For many women, this is a day of joy filled with the laughter and fun of family and friends. For some, however, today is a difficult day as you think of children you never had, children who have passed, or children with whom you are currently estranged. For most mothers, today is a day of joy and sorrow as you reflect upon the highs and lows of motherhood. Mothers, on behalf of a grateful church and nation, we love you and thank God for you. Today we want to encourage you to grow in love for: 1) the Lord, 2) your Husband, 3) and your Family.

1. Love the Lord. Moms, you are made in the image of God and specifically designed by God. The Bible talks about the importance of mothers and the vital role they have. Isaiah 49:15 talks about a mother’s compassion. Proverbs 6:20 references her teaching. Isaiah 66:13 mentions a mother’s comfort. 1 Thessalonians 2:7 tells us about a mother’s gentle care. Proverbs 31 refers to a godly woman who is trustworthy (v.11), charitable and loving (v.20), teaches her children with kindness and wisdom (v.26), fears the Lord and is valued for much more than beauty (v.30). Paul mentions Rufus’ mother “who has been a mother to me as well” (Rom 16:13).
   A mother’s love is a gift from God and a mother’s love is longsuffering. 1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love” and is therefore the source of all love. Mom, be diligent to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength” (Deut 6:5). Your first responsibility is to know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As a Christian woman “be reverent in behavior…teach what is good and encourage” (Titus 2:3-4). Walk in a growing relationship with God. Grow close to Christ in the gospel, in the Bible, and in prayer. Understand the work of Christ and how that shapes your own life and relationships. Become like Christ by regularly putting off the old self and putting on the new self. Live for Christ in the home, at work, and everywhere you go. Hide God’s word in your heart and be a witness to others.

2. Love and Respect your Husband. Moms, true love comes from God and only His love flowing through you can allow you to truly love your husband. How can you love your husband and encourage him? Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:33, “let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Emmerson Eggerichs wrote a book entitled Love & Respect. In his book, he makes the point that wives must be intentional to respect their husbands. He says that wives show love to their husbands by respecting them. Respect is very important to men and a wife who respects her husband (and demonstrates it) will be a great encourager to him. She will also be a blessing to his leadership in the home. Emmerson encourages wives to take what he calls the “Respect Test”. Wives are to write down a few things they respect about their husbands and when he comes home tell him: “Dear, I was thinking about you today and how much I respect you for…”.
   In the vast majority of these instances, the response from the husbands was amazing. Wives who love and respect their husbands model a Christ-honoring marriage for their children to witness. Show your children what a godly wife looks like. This is important for your daughter(s) to emulate and for your son(s) to desire. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.”

3. Love your Family. Moms, true love comes from God and only His love flowing through you can allow you to truly love your children. Remember the wise old saying: “The days are long, but the years are short.” How can you love your children and encourage them? Be patient and gracious. Moms around young children know the struggle with patience. Moms know that when you hear a child flush the toilet and say ‘uh oh’, it’s already too late! Moms know a 3-year old boy’s voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant. Moms know that a puddle is a small body of water that attracts other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it. Moms know that the top bunk is where you should never put a little boy wearing Superman pajamas. Mothers are also aware of two mysterious people living in the house: Somebody and Nobody. Somebody did it and Nobody knows. Mom, treasure your children in all stages of life and show them Christlike love.
   A mother’s love never ends for her children. Maybe you are a mother who is watching her children leave the house or maybe they have already left and are starting a life on their own. If this is you, entrust them to Jesus and faithfully pray for them. D. L. Moody once said, “The impression that a praying mother leaves upon her children is life-long.” Augustine was a rebellious young man who had a godly mother who prayed faithfully for him. Augustine became one of the most influential Christian thinkers of all time. After his mother died, he wrote in his Confessions to God about her: “If anyone finds sin in the tears I wept for my mother…let him not berate me. This mother who now was dead to mine eyes had for many years wept for me, that I might live before Your face.”

Moms, we love you and thank you for everything you do. One day a year is not sufficient to show our appreciation, but we hope that taking a day to honor you shows how much we love and admire you.

A Mother’s Prayer.

 “Lord, give me patience when wee hands
tug at me with their small demands.
Give me gentle and smiling eyes;
Keep my lips from hasty replies.
Let not weariness, confusion, or noise
obscure my vision of life’s fleeting joys.
So, when in years to come, my house is still—
no bitter memories its rooms may fill.
Amen.”  (Author Unknown)