"Mom"

When Mom said that she loved me,

I didn’t know it then,

But it would be my anchor,

For all the days since when,

She gave me that assurance,

That no matter what I did,

She was always mother,

And I would be her kid.

She spoke to me of Jesus,

The first to tell me so,

She said His love was awesome,

And now I think I know,

I didn’t have much trouble,

Believing it was true,

‘Cause Mom had always shown me,

In all she tried to do.

And no, she wasn’t perfect,

But only Jesus was,

Through the years she followed,

And I know all this because,

There in cards and letters,

And prayers and long phone calls,

And late night talks and visits,

For decades through it all,

She praised and lived for Jesus,

And spoke in Jesus’ name,

Because she gave a witness,

Many lives were changed.

And now she can’t remember,

All those things she said,

She’s ninety-four and sleeps a lot,

The memories put to bed.

But, Mom, you know I love you,

And thank the Lord He gave,

The mother who was faithful,

To those He came to save.

“Honor your father and mother. The you will live a long, full life…” (Exodus 20:12, NLT)

It is called the first commandment with a specific promise. Honor your parents and you’ll live a long, full life. Today is Mothers Day, 2020, and another opportunity to do what God commanded. I was fortunate enough to have a Christian mother who told me about Jesus. The mother of my children is the same, and they are blessed by her. But suppose your mother was cruel or addicted or abusive? What then? I suppose you would have to find the grace to forgive her and try to honor her the best you can. In that case not because she was honorable but simply because she’s your mom. It would be doing something for Jesus’ sake and for His glory, simply because God’s word says to do it. Sometime that’s the hardest thing to do, isn’t it? Just do it because it’s what the Lord wants, even though you have lots of ambivalence about the whole thing. When I find myself in that place I ask the Holy Spirit to do something through me that I cannot muster up the emotional strength to do. Will He do it through us? My experience is yes, He will. And more powerfully than we might imagine. I pray you and your mother are blessed this Mothers Day.

Lord, thank You for the mothers who have blessed our lives, in Jesus’ name.

Art by JaNeil Anderson, janeilanderson.com. Used by permission. Thanks, JaNeil, and God bless you.