For Our Mothers

Nowadays, we live in a very complicated world. Answering the question “Who is your mother?” is no longer a forgone conclusion. Who is your mother? Is she the one who gave birth to you or adopted you? Is she your stepmother? Is she a single mom? Maybe your grandmother or aunt have taken on the role of mother for you. Perhaps you consider more than one woman in your life as your mothers. Possibly, you miss your mother because she passed away. Who do you call mother or mom? Today, we honor our mothers on Mother’s Day.

Our “mothers”, whoever they may be, have loved us unconditionally, have nurtured us, taught us, and created memories with us that are embedded in our being, deep in our heart. This is the day we are to remind our mothers how much we love them and are thankful for all they have done for us. They cooked for us, cleaned the house, washed our clothes and tried to teach us what was right in their eyes. They worried about us, possibly prayed for us, and disciplined us, even though they probably hated that role as mother. They listened to us (most of the time), were happy for us whenever we were happy and sad for us whenever we were sad. They took care of our “boo boos” and made us feel better. They suffered through our pain, whenever we felt ill or were injured. They cried for us and laughed with us. Throughout it all, we oftentimes made it harder for them.

 I hope you had such a woman in your life. Or perhaps, you are that woman, that mother.  Ephesians 6:1-3 encourages us, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother”—this is the first commandment with a promise: “so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” As Christians, we are rewarded for loving and respecting our parents. Today, on Mother’s Day, we take the opportunity to show our mothers how much we treasure them.

At times, mothers get a “bad rap” because as humans themselves, they may have made mistakes. No one teaches a woman how to be a mother. They learn from experience or from their own mothers who made mistakes. There is no how-to manual that can possibly cover all a mother needs to know for each individual child, in order to be super mom.  Those that we call “mom” are the mother or mother-figure in our lives that loved us no matter what. They might have floundered in the role as mother and made mistakes, but they loved us, nonetheless. They may have not always known how to show their love, but they loved us the best they could.

If your relationship with your mother is strained, today would be a good day to make amends and just show your mother love. Forgive her for her mistakes in the past and in the future. Be the first to initiate the repair of your relationship, simply because she gave you life, if nothing else. Understand that she is flawed, as we are, and she probably did the best she could.

I love you with all my heart, Mom! I know that I often made it harder for you! Happy Mother's Day!