Mother’s Day

It's MOTHER’S DAY and today we want to celebrate Super Mum!

 

For many of us we have great mums, and often we are closer to them than our fathers. But whether you have a great mum or a shocker, whether she is alive or dead, near or far, today is a day to celebrate the good things about your mum.

 

So did you give her a gift? A card? A phone call? A cuddle?

 

THE ORIGIN OF MOTHER’S DAY

 

Mother’s Day was the idea of Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia in 1907, after her own mother had died. She wanted a special day to celebrate motherhood, and within 4 years every US state was celebrating Mother’s Day, and it was travelling around the world.

 

Yet within a few years she was shocked at the commercialism that had evolved around it. In fact, in 1923 she sued to stop a Mother’s Day celebration, saying it should be a day if sentiment, not profit.

 

Abraham Lincoln said, ''No man is poor who has a godly mother.'' Mums, there's a challenge for you on this your special day.

 

And the challenge to all of us with our mums is to honour them…

 

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

 

THE HEART OF A MOTHER

 

Mother’s hearts are different to others… Most often there is something in them that is nurturing and loving, despite many times their own difficulties and idiosyncrasies. In Lily House reunification of families is central to what we do. These girls could have been into drugs, prostitution, homelessness, illicit affairs, lying, cheating, alcoholism, whatever. But when they come to us their almost universal cry is, “"I want my kids back!”

 

Any woman can become a mother, it is a biological consequence of a sexual Union of some kind, good or bad. But becoming a great mother involves a lifetime of caring, sacrifice and hard work.

 

In a class one day the kids were given a maths question: state your answer as a fraction:  If there’s 10 at the table and one apple pie, how much does each one get?  One ninth! Say a child.  “Don’t you know your fractions?” Asked the teacher.  “Do you know my mother?  If there’s that many at the table and only one pie, she don’t want none!”

 

And frankly, we often don't really appreciate what our mothers have done, or sacrificed for us. We often concentrate on the negative. Yet, despite whatever problems they may have, there would not be a mother in this room that doesn't feel something special for their children. 

 

Mary the mother of Jesus was like that…

Luke 2:51b

 And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

 

HOW TO LOVE YOUR MUM

 

Loving your mum is a priority. It was in the Old Testament, and it was for Jesus.

 

Pauls sites the Ten Commandments and says, 

Ephesians 6:2

“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),

 

Jesus, hanging on a cross in agony, still cared for his mum…

 

John 19:26-27

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

 

So how you should love your mum, today and every single day. Love is not a gooey feeling, it's an act of the will, so no matter how good or bad your mum might be, you can decide right now to love her. 

 

And how should we love our mums? I believe we need to love them as God loves you. So here's 8 ways to love mum like God loves you…

 

 

1. LOVE YOUR MUM VERBALLY

 

God tells you He loves you. The entire Bible is God telling you He loves you…

John 16:27

the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

 

What you say reflects what's in your heart…

 

Luke 6:45

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

 

What you say to your mum and about your mum reflects how you feel about her. Guys, women need to hear the words, “"I love you,” regardless of how much you show that you love them.

 

There was a couple in counselling where the wife complained that her husband never told her he loved her. He replied, “"Woman, I told you I loved you 40 years ago when we married, and if I ever change my mind I will let you know!”

 

Men especially, tell your mum that you love her. It's not weak or sissy, it's actually pretty cool. Regardless of what your mum has said or done, this Mother's Day tell your mum you love her with your words. Write her if you can't verbalise it, and she will cherish that note forever. 

 

My kids made myself and Fiona little photo books highlighting what they think of us and what they remember as kids. I look at them from time to time and cherish them.

 

2. LOVE YOUR MUM DEMONSTRATIVELY 

 

You can talk until the world ends, unless you demonstrate your love it is worthless. Many times we demonstrate the opposite of what we say. A man says "I love you,” then hits his wife. A child says “I love you,” then disobeys his parents.

 

God doesn't just say He loves you, He backs it up with actions. He demonstrates His love for you…

 

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Ask yourself, how can you demonstrate your love for your mum today. A phone call or a visit? A card or a present? Spending money or spending time, or both?

 

Demonstrate your love for mum just as God demonstrated His for you.

 

3. LOVE YOUR MUM PATIENTLY 

 

2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Let's face it, everyone can be irritating at times, including you, and including your mum. 1 Corinthians 13 tells us that love is patient, so especially as she gets older, be patient with your mum.

 

Mum can be a pain. She might call at the most awkward times, say slightly offensive things, have her own particular, peculiar way of doing things. I adore my mum, but she's a classic for odd things said, like, “your dad would be taller if his legs were longer,” or, when we are all thinking but not saying a family member’s dress might be inappropriate, “"Don't wear that, it makes you look fat.”

 

 I know mums can be irritating, but hey, she's your mum and deserves some patience! When she says the same thing 12 times, when you've heard the story a dozen times already, just love her patiently. I mean, Fiona's had to endure my latest fishing story a dozen times already!

 

4. LOVE YOUR MUM AFFECTIONATELY 

 

Deuteronomy 7:7-8

 

The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your ancestors that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery.

 

God sets His affections on you. He loves you affectionately, and He’s not afraid to show it. So why not decide right now decide to show your mum some affection, more than you ever have before.

 

Women are usually pretty touchy-feely. They love hugs, kisses and the like from those who are special to them.  In our current culture, everyone suspects something sinister behind a hug, especially from men. But most often, women can sense if a hug is genuine and pure, they are wired that way.

 

So when’s the last time you gave your mum a big hug spontaneously, without her asking for it…or a kiss on the cheek, or just sat on the couch and held her hand for a change?

 

Think of this… Your mum is the first person who ever touched you… you were inside of her for 9 months, and when you were born the first overwhelming things she wanted to do was to hold you, cuddle you, settle you and care for you.  She changed nappies, cleaned up after you, fed you. 

 

She touched you, even when you were grubby, smelly and screaming. She may not have always been there for you, but she did her share of touching when you needed it.

 

A mother’s love involves physical touch, so it's time to be affectionate back in love!

 

If you visit a nursing home! You will often notice old ladies want to touch you. They want to hold your hand, have a hug, etc. this is often because they are starved for that simple, innocent brand of love.  Their physical needs are covered by nursing staff, but that's not the same as the right touch.

 

5. LOVE YOUR MUM PROTECTIVELY 

 

Psalms 32:7

You are my hiding place;

you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.

 

Particularly as your mum grows older, you need to protect her.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.

 

As mums get older, many people just fob them off and ignore them. If mums are older, or single, then you need to go out of your way to protect and cherish them.

 

NBC America filed this report…

A 4-year-old boy may have saved his mother's life when he managed to unlock her iPhone and call his father for help after he found her unconscious on Sunday night.

 

Dr. Jeremy Vaughan was at his office when he received the frightening call from his 4-year-old son, Camden. "[He said,] 'Daddy, you need to come home! Mommy can't wake up,'" Vaughan told ABC News.

 

Vaughan dropped everything and rushed home to his wife Misty, where he found her unresponsive. He called 911. She had suffered a mysterious illness and had a seizure.

 

Hey, if a 4 year old can look out for his mum and protect her, I think we all could do the same, don't you?

 

6. LOVE YOUR MUM GENEROUSLY

 

God is not a stingy God, He lavishes blessing upon you. He not only provides the bear minimum, He blesses you in thousands of ways. A home, a car, friends, fun, you don't scratch through life as a Christian, He promises life to the full!

 

Deuteronomy 7:13

He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, your grain and your wine and your oil, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock, in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

 

Your Heavenly Father loves to be generous. In fact, many mums are generous to a fault, especially with their kids and grandkids. My mum could be tough where needed, but unbelievably generous. My mum and dad gave me my first guitar, and they gave me a slap on the backside when I was out of line. They gave me my first little bomby car at Uni, and they gave a hard time when I dated the wrong type of girl.

 

But years later, I want to be generous back to my mum. It's Mother's Day, buy the lady a present. Buy her a decent present, maybe one that actually costs a little bit!

 

I heard about a wealthy son who decided to do something very special for his mother on her day. He went to a pet shop and saw a very expensive talking bird. This was an unusual bird. This bird could whistle Amazing Grace and quote the Lord’s prayer. It was an unusual bird. Sure, it might cost $30,000, but he was wealthy so what did he care? He bought the bird, and arranged for it to be delivered to his mum. 

 

On Mother's Day he called her, ''Mother, how did you like the bird I sent you?'' She said, ''O, it was delicious, son.'' 

 

Hopefully your gift fares a little better than his!

 

1 John 3:1

 

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! 

 

So don't be stingy with your mum, be generous with your money, and your time. The second one is often the hardest, because we all live busy lives. But I urge you to lavish some time on your mum. Take her out to dinner on a date, sit with her, relive the good times, listen to her whines and aches and pains, but decide to be lavish and generous because God is generous with you!

 

7. LOVE YOUR MUM FAITHFULLY

 

Faithfulness is not a common thing in our modern world. Friends, spouses, elected officials, no one seems to be faithful these days.  When the going gets tough, most people disappear!

 

Lamentations 3:22-23

 

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,

for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

 

God loves you with great faithfulness, and do you should love others with the same faithfulness, especially your mum on Mother's Day. 

 

I saw a documentary on death row, where the interviewer spoke to men going to execution and their mothers. Invariably the moms would say, “He’s really such a good boy, he has a good heart, etc.” he may be an axe murderer, but she faithfully sees the good in him.

 

Now for most of you your mum has been there for you for at least part of your life. She's believed in you and even given up what she wanted for you. 

 

Now the boot’s on the other foot, and it's payback time. Does your mum know you love her faithfully?

 

 

“But, she’s always complaining”…yes, just like you did! (Have you ever asked “"Are we nearly there yet?”) She talks about herself and asks same question over and over… just like you did as a kid or as a teenager, right?

 

One day, folks, you will be old too. You will experience the same fears, anxieties and pains your mum currently does.  Lets treat our mums as we’d hope to be treated when we are in their shoes!

 

 

Let's love them faithfully as our Heavenly a father loves us!

 

 

8. LOVE YOUR MUM SACRIFICIALLY

 

God your father sacrificed for you because He loves you. He gave Heaven’s best for your worst sins, to win you to Himself!

 

King David knew how to love God. We tend to try and bargain with God like we do at the markets, trying to get the greatest blessing for the least price. David refused to do that, insisting that he would not offer sacrifices that cost him nothing…

 

1 Chronicles 21:24

 

But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”

 

True love is sacrificial. This flies in the face of modern love, which is all about “"What's in it for me.” Your mum loved you sacrificially at some point, and I believe that that is the way we should love our mums, and also God.

 

Sacrificial love hurts to bless another. It thinks beyond its own needs or wants or comforts to put someone else first. 

 

When you visit your mum, she will want to talk about her pains, her dramas, her situation. She won't want to discuss the footy results. She probably won't want to talk about what you do. She might even make you miserable or mad or frustrated or even exhausted. When you put her first this Mother's Day, when you sit through this or give her a special gift or take her somewhere special, you are loving her sacrificially.

 

You might not like your mum. You might say that she doesn't deserve to be loved like that. She did this or that when I was young, she abandoned me, hurt me, destroyed my life! Sure, maybe your mum doesn't deserve your love, but neither do you deserve God’s love. That's what grace is, it's being loved when we don't deserve it.  And to give you grace God sacrificed the best of Heaven for you, to win your soul back from death to life.

 

Sacrificial love doesn't mean it is deserved!  When you love your mum despite what she might have said or done to you, you love her sacrificially, you love with the same love Jesus had as he hung on nails for 6 tortuous hours for you!

 

He laid His life down. He sacrificed Himself when you did not deserve it. If you love your mum in this way today, despite whatever she has done or said in the past, if you realise that this is not about what she deserves but about who she is, your mum, and about your sacrificial love, then this could be the best Mother's Day she's ever had!

 

Jesus died sacrificially one day hanging in unbelievable agony, for you. You don't deserve life, you deserve eternal death in hell, but He did it because He decided to love you. Not to make you into someone better than you are, but because He decided you're worth it! 

 

Jesus Christ didn't die to make bad men good, He died to make dead men live. How will you respond to His sacrificial love for you today, and how will you show that love to your mum today?