Friday, May 12, 2000

VERSE:

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Clpoas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He loved standing beside her, he said to His mother, "Woman, here is your son." Then He said to the disciple, "Here is your mother." And from that hour the disciple took her into His own home.

-- John 19:25-27

http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?John+19:25-27

THOUGHT:

Jesus was kinda funny. Not funny in the ha-ha sense, but funny in the help me to understand You better sense. It seems early on in His life he was at times short with her(See the wedding at Cana, John 2:4). He put his ministry first(Matthew 10:37) and indicated that all who do the will of His Father were mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters(Matthew 12:50).

Hear the Good News, God has put someone in our life that we all have. Someone to learn from. One who nurtures our very being, supports us, cares for us and calls us their own. This someone is Christ.

When it comes to mothers, not all women may be mothers, but, every person - men and women - has a mother. You may not have known her, or even liked her, but you still had a mother. Most of us, though, cherish our mothers - and even acknowledge how wise she becomes as we grow older.

Back to the funny thing about Jesus. It seems there were times in which He may have been short, abrupt or even seem to overlook who she was to Him. There may have even been times when she proved that she did not know what he was fully about, but He did honor her. It seems He honored her by loving her honestly. He remained true to her and to who he was. He never put her on a pedestal, but never walk over her. He loved her with all his heart. In fact, He went to he cross for her! While we may never be called to go to the cross for our mother, we are called to honor her, to love her and to take care of her.

Here are some things to think about as we approach Mother's Day:

* Pick up the phone and call her. Your voice matters.

* Little things mean the most. Honoring your mother does not have to be a big something.

* Write a note. Hand-written notes go over well.

* Patch relationships. Christ restores your relationship with Him, restore yours with your mom.

* See her as more than "Mom." You're more than a "son" aren't you?

* Rejoice if you have more than one mother. Step, in-laws, adopted, etc.

* Learn from your mother. Both the good and the bad, then thank her in an appropriate way.

* Treasure your memories of her. If she is no longer around, her memories will always be with you.

* Get rid of the mother-in-law myth. All I can say is I have a great one.

* Visit her. Nothing like a face to face.

* Develop a new relationship with your mother. Sure she is "mom", but she can be a friend too.

* Adopt a mom. You know who she is!

PRAYER:

Almighty God, You are a great Father and Mother alike. We can learn so much from You, the way You have loved us and cared for us. Help us to be the child You would have us to be. Allow us to celebrate our mother and remember to honor and love her. To cherish our memories of her, and by Your grace, reconcile any misgivings we might have with her. Most of all help us to not only love, but be loved. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.