Perhaps you are like me and your mom is no longer living on
this earth. You may question, “Why can’t
we fast forward through the commercials mentioning Mother’s Day, avoid the
greeting card aisles, and stop hearing about all of the endless celebrations
honoring mom?” The answer is
simple. God wants us to honor our mothers
every day of our lives. Ephesians 6:2-3
says, “‘Honor your father and mother’--which is the first commandment with a
promise—‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the
earth.’” You see, we are not only to
honor our parents in order to please them. We are to honor our parents in order to please
God. By doing so, God has promised that we
can enjoy a long life on this earth.
As a child, it seemed that nothing could ever separate my mom,
dad, and I. We were like the Three
Musketeers. In my mind, we would always
be together. I already had plans of
building a house on our property upon getting married. My children could see their grandparents
every day of the year, providing we were not busy traveling the globe. I knew it would be amazing to have my mom close
by, to answer all of the questions that marriage and motherhood would
raise. Suddenly, though, on August 2,
2008, all of my dreams for the future came crashing down around me. My mom had a heart attack and went to be with
the Lord. There was no warning, no
chance for goodbyes. The world as I knew
it up until that tragic night changed instantly. Nothing could have ever prepared me for the
void in my heart.
That’s often how things happen. Life changes in the blink of an eye. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson issued a
presidential proclamation, establishing the first national Mother’s Day
holiday. Less than three months later, World
War I ensued, resulting in over 22 million casualties. I’m sure on the first Mother’s Day, many mothers
and children alike never dreamed their lives would change forever over the
course of the next four years. But the
family members who survived this catastrophic battle likely became closer knit,
held together by an even stronger bond of love, with the complete realization
of how fragile and precious life truly is.
Even though their lives changed drastically, they continued living
life. They did not stop honoring their
parents, but continued to honor them through the way they lived their own lives.
Since my mom passed away, bittersweet memories still cloud
many aspects of my life, especially on Mother’s Day. While things have changed, and I no longer
know what God’s plan is for me concerning marriage and motherhood, I know for
certain that God holds my future in His hands.
I may not understand everything He has planned for me, but I trust in
His perfect will. Romans 8:28 says, “All
things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to
His purpose.” My dad and I love God. We
know we are called to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for our shared heart for
ministry and music. God has blessed us
with a strong father-daughter bond. No
matter what trials come our way, or what battles we find ourselves in, God will
work all things out for our good.
I want to encourage you today. God will do the same for you. If your heart breaks with the thought of
another Mother’s Day without your mom, rest assured that God will work all
things out for your good. Focus on the priceless
memories you have of your mom. Honor her
by telling someone a story as you reminisce over the cherished time you shared
with your mom. Honor her by spending time
with your dad, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, or friends who knew her. Honor her by giving the greatest gift you
could ever give to your children: unconditional love. Most importantly, remember that God has not
forsaken you. God says in His Word, “‘As
a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you’” (Isaiah 66:13). Even in the absence of your mother, know that
God is watching over you, comforting you, loving you unconditionally. Your Heavenly Father will mend your broken
heart and restore your joy. Unlike the
people and pleasures found in this world, He is the only One who eternally can
fill the void of a parent, a child, or any other loved one. You are loved by the One who created the
Heavens and the Earth! Rest in His
loving arms this Mother’s Day!
Mothers are extraordinary women. Sadly, they will not be in our lives
forever. The Bible says that our lives
are like a vapor, here one moment and gone the next. So cherish each moment you have with your mother. If your mom is still living, spend as much
time as you can with her, give her a warm embrace, and tell her how much you
love her. Honor your mother and your father. Above all, honor God, our faithful Friend,
our compassionate Comforter, and our loving Father in Heaven. He is the Father to the fatherless and the mother
to the motherless. Tell someone about
Jesus Christ and His infinite love this Mother’s Day. I could think of no better way to honor your mother!
In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer