This year, it is 25 years since Mom passed away and it is also Janet’s 11th year without her Mom. The years just keep rolling along and sometimes I just can’t believe how long it’s been.
It seems that some of us probably don’t appreciate our Moms as much as we should until it is too late – at least that is the way it was with me. Mom and I had our ups and downs throughout the years but she never failed to call me at 9:42 p.m. each Sunday evening. Of course, that was before the age of streaming and I had invested 42 minutes in Sunday evening programming when the phone would ring and I would miss the end of the show… But now I wish that I could hear her voice – at any time of the day or night. That’s just one example of things that I could have done better in my relationship with Mom.
Janet’s mother was like a second Mom to me. She was always kind, in my corner and I have known her since I was a very little kid. I met her back in 1959 when she was pregnant with Janet’s younger sister. My mother was pregnant with my youngest brother at the same time.
I have to say that Moms are the glue that usually hold families together. I don’t think that I realized that as a youngster. But now, Janet and I will be celebrating our 50th anniversary this summer, God willing, and I have an entirely different perspective on the role of a mother. In fact, I have a front row seat – having observed Janet with our three kids a few years shy of half a century.
Now I am not saying that fathers aren’t necessary – in fact, quite the opposite. They come to me when they need help or a solution – getting something fixed. But they come to Janet when they need a hug – and that makes all the difference in the world.
Our verse for tonight is from the Book of Proverbs. Among other things, this book of the Scripture speaks to the godliness of wives and mothers. Solomon, the author of the book, tells us about the role of mothers in Proverbs 31:25-29. He tells us, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
My encouragement this evening is that Moms are a very important part of most of our lives Unfortunately, there are those who did not have the good fortune to have a wonderful mother – or who lost her at an early age. Hopefully, those people have been able to find another role model who Christ has put in their path as a model of motherly behavior and love. My prayer is that we can all celebrate the global role of mothers on this most important day. After all, a father’s role is critically important but it is the maternal bond that really is our example of earthly love – what is consistent with the love of Jesus for us. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…