Mom

This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day.  Historically it is the second highest attendance day in many churches, behind only Easter.  Father’s Day, on the other hand, is often the highest attendance day at the lake or the golf course, but I digress.

            I wonder how many people have said to me, at some point in their lives, “I don’t know where I would be without my mother’s prayers for me.”  We often go to church on that day because our Moms have been such a powerful influence on our lives for God and for good. 

            I was blessed to have a godly mother.  She’s been gone now for seventeen years. She was only a couple of years older than I am right now when she passed.  I was so heart-broken, and I still miss her every day.  Her grandchildren called her, “The queen of fair.”  It was a compliment. She was so determined to treat them all fairly, that she would put a pack of gum in one box if she had spent fifty cents more on the other grands. She tenderly loved her five grands more than you can imagine.

            My mom was also as tough as nails. She played high school basketball in the 1950’s. She was a guard, which meant she only played defense. In that day the girls were not allowed to cross half-court. If you don’t know what I mean, ask someone in their sixties or over.  Mom was the ninth of ten children, and her father passed when she was 13.  She had to be tough to survive. 

            Tender. Tough. Both words were apropos for Mom. And in some ways they are words that describe our Lord. Jesus was tender. He loved, and loves, us all. And yet He could be tough when necessary.  He did clear the Temple when it was being misused.

            I hope that you can see the full picture of who Jesus is. He truly loves you, just as you are. But He does not want you to remain as you are. He wants you to grow in holiness. He wants you to be more like Him. May God help you to grow to be more like Jesus. And may you have a happy and blessed Mother’s Day.