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What’s
God Got to do with It?
Mother's
Day
By Nancy Livingston
Mother's
Day Weekend! For some, it's a
day set aside to show love and respect to the one who brought us into
the
world. To show appreciation to her as one who, like a mother
hen, took
her young under her wing and raised them up until they were able to
leave the
nest. Yet for others, it's a time only to reflect and hold
dear in their
heart, the fond memories of a mother who is no longer with
them.
For
those of us who still have a mom, let's
remember that for us, Mother's Day really does come more than once a
year!
My
mother is a widow and doesn't drive. Taking
her out for lunch and shopping has been a weekly excursion for many
years.
She is blessed to have four children who are immediately
there any time
she needs help. Lately, she's been battling several health
issues and
does need more help. There are those visits to the doctors,
the pharmacy,
helping with housework, or any number of things we might do to make it
easier
for her. She doesn't have to say so, but we know she
appreciates it.
Like
my mother, my own children live close by
as well. A year ago, I had a scare that sent me to the hospital.
My kids
were there right beside my bed. Like my mother, someday I too, might
face
similar health concerns and need more their help.
Caring
for our parents…what's God got to do with it? His Word has
much to say! Romans
1:30, Colossians
3:20, 2 Timothy 3:2, and Ephesians 6:1,
teaches that acknowledging the authority
of a parent is very important
to God! How about
those of us who are
"all grown up" and no
longer
under the authority of our parents?
Proverbs 1:8 reminds us, "Hear my son,
your father's instruction
and forsake not your mother's teaching” .
If
I’m smart, I’ll apply
the good teachings handed down from my
parents , no matter how old I
get! Proverbs 17:6 teaches that parents are
the “pride of their
children”. How's
that for role
reversal? Exodus
20, the 5th
commandment handed down by God,
commands us to honor our father and mother.
For
me, I have an opportunity to show honor and display pride in
my mother, by meeting her needs, when necessary.
There are times when I must change my
schedule or get out of my comfort
zone
to accommodate my mother. I confess here and now,
sometimes I’m just plain selfish! During those selfish
times, I consider that the
Lord chose her to bring me into the
world. She raised me and loved me through my disobedience and
disrespect while
growing up. I also
contemplate the fact
that there will come a day when I will no longer
be pulling up to her house and helping
her
climb into my van. When I will no longer
be picking up groceries for her ,
sorting mail, helping her with prescriptions
and doctors. Even
more significant,
there will come a time, when sitting with her in the park eating
Wendy’s
chicken nuggets, or
sipping coffee and
eating donuts while playing 500 Rummy, or doing all those other things
that we
enjoy together, will be only fond memories.
There will be a day when I’ll drive by
the house I grew up in and
remember…remember…remember when.
My
mom’s days here are numbered, as are all our days.
We can choose to see helping our parents
as a
burden or a chore. Or,
we can line our
thoughts up with God’s view, and find that helping our moms is not only
a
privilege and an honor, it’s actually a joy!
Happy
Mother's Day!
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