Well, another year has passed and once again we have the opportunity to appreciate and celebrate our mothers and wives. It seems to me that we have made great progress in addressing one another these days. More and more I witness mothers greeting one another with the traditional Mother’s Day greeting. When I was a young boy I don’t ever remember as much celebration as we have these days. And that’s a great thing.
Of course, every few years we watch our two daughters and our grandchildren grow older and enter different phases of their lives. Now that our kids are solidly in middle age, Janet and I seemed to have attained another level of status in the family. More and more, we see our relationships with the kids evolving into different stages. If anything, I think that it is safe to say that we are more revered, especially Janet, than we have ever been.
It seems that the disagreements that we used to have when our children were in their twenties and thirties, in other words, young parents, are no longer the norm or the default way we get along. I am reminded of the phrase my Dad used to tell me about his own life. He said the older he got, the wiser his parents became. I think that I finally understand. And make no mistake. I think that it is the mothers of this world who hold families together. The men may think that they run things, but Moms are the glue that we depend on to be the voice or reason, provide wise counsel when needed; and to be diligent and steadfast in their commitment to love deeply. I realize that there are many people who don’t have the benefit of a mother who can instill these values in them, but I hope that someone in their lives can fill this very necessary function for them.
Our children still turn to Janet when they need advice about a variety of issues – everything about how to handle a situation with a grandchild, arrange a party for one of the family members, or even just plan a beginning of summer event – all in addition to the solid foundation Janet has instilled from the beginning. And we are so blessed to be in a family that has members who really enjoy getting together. I think that phenomenon is somewhat rare in today’s world.
In our family, Janet has been the one who has made two incredibly important family contributions that are priceless. First of all, and most importantly, all three of our children and four grandsons are devout believers in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Just as Janet’s grandmother greatly influenced her faith walk, so Janet has impacted the depth of the faith of our children and grandchildren. In fact, Janet is also responsible for my depth of faith as well.
As long as I have known Janet, I have admired her faith in Jesus and commitment to a life devoted to Him. When times have been tough or finances tight, Janet has always been the one to profess her faith and her unwavering desire to count on God to bring us through. I have watched her for years do her morning devotional reading, followed by looking up recommended Bible verses and then watched as she prayed her private prayer each morning. She has consistently wanted to be a part of the Bible studies that I teach and together we have been on a faith journey for decades together.
The second thing that she has done for the family and the community at large is to provide a platform of kindness and civility. She has never spoken harshly about people or done anything to intentionally hurt someone’s feelings. In the almost fifty two years that we have been married, I can’t name a single person who doesn’t like Janet. She’s the perfect friend… and I’m fortunate enough to be the person who receives the benefit of a love and friendship so deep that I can’t even compare it to anything else.
Of course, all this goes to say that Mother’s Day is a pretty important day in our family. We are so fortunate to have two daughters who have become great Moms in their own right; and Janet, the matriarch of our family, leads the entire group in demonstrating what it means to be devoted to one’s family and leading with a servant’s heart.
Our verse for tonight highlights the importance of motherhood. Certainly, it extols the virtues that Janet contributes to our family. Solomon, the author of Proverbs, tells us, in Proverbs 31:26, “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” This describes Janet’s role in our family. My encouragement this evening is that God wants us to turn to others as teachers, mentors and influencers as to how we should live a Godly life. My prayer is that there is someone in your life who can provide instruction and counsel that will draw you closer to the Lord throughout the various seasons of your life. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…